The New York Herald Newspaper, September 12, 1875, Page 5

MICHAEL ANGELO, Quadro-Centennial of the Great Genius, THE PAINTER, PATRIOT AND POET. —~--+-——--- A Grand Life, but Full of Checks and Sorrows, Florence’s Defender and Rome’s Adorner. Preparations for Honorary Festi vals in Italy- Frorence, Sept. 11, 1875, To-morrow will be the first day of the festival commemorating the quadrocen- tennial of Michael Angelo. The celebra- tion will last three days, and will include services at the tomb of the great artist and the inauguration of a monument in a square to bear his hame. THE CELEBRATION IN RoE, Romz, Sept. 11, 1875. ‘There have been many arrivals here to-day of distinguished Italians and foreigners to attend the Michael Angelo celebration to- morrow. SKETCH OF MICHAEL ANGELO BUONARROTI, Whether this greatest of sculptors descended from the “noble and illustrious family of the Counts of Canosea,” as is asserted by his early” biographers, Condivi and Vasari, and repeated by successive bio- graphers until Giuseppe Campori threw doubt on the assertion by thediscovery of new documents, matters nothing; the fact that, in his own day and. for three tenturies, he has been known simply as Michael Angelo proves that his name can confer, but cannot receive, ad- ditional lustre, What we know for cortain {s, that the Buonarroti or Buonarotti Or Buonarotte-Simoni, as they indis- criminately sign themselves, held high offices in the State, that our Michael Angelo’s grandfather belonged to the Signoria or government of Florence, and that his father, Lodovico di Lionardo Buonarroti-Simoni was, in 1474, appointed Podesta of two small tities in the Valley of Lungarsia, Chiusi and Caprese; and that his wife, Francesca fi Neri di Miniato del Sera, and of Bonda Rucellai, flespite a dangerous full from her horse, presented him with a son two hours after midnight on the 6th of March, 1475, This second son of the young couple (Francesca was but nineteen and Lodovico thirty-one at his birth) ‘was named Michelagnolo, and thus he always wrote his tame, signing on special occasions ‘Michelagnolo di Lodovico di Lionardo di Buonarrota di Simone.” That be clung to the name is proved by a letter to his favor- tte nephew, Leonardo, in his old age, when asked what fame the lattor should give to his first son:—‘'Arei ben taro (it would please me well),”” he wrote, “that this ame Buonarroto should not be missing in our house, ‘as it has already lasted three hundyed years among us.”” Again, on the 22d of October, 1547, he writes to the same nophew:—‘“‘Leonardo, a year since I came upon a manuscript of Florentine chronicles, and about two hundred years since mention is made of Buonarroto Simoni, several times member of the Signoria; also of a Bimone Buonarroti, a Michele di Buonarroto Simon; and of a Francesco Buonarroti, I found no mention of Lionardo, one of the Signori, father of my futher, be- cause the chronicler did not come down to his time. But it seems to me that you do well to write your name Lionardo di Buonarroto Buonarroti Simoni.” The wet nurse to whom the infant Michael Angelo was confided was the daughter of one stone mason and the wife of another; bence he used to say that he had imbibed his love for chisel and malict with his foster mother’s milk. The family increased rapidly and Lo- dlovico apprenticed several of his sons to the silk and wool trade, but Michael Angelo, of whom the astrolo tists, “seeing that Mercury and Venus were in con- Junction with Jupiter at the hour of his birth, FORETOLD BXTRAORDINARY GENIUS and universal success,” was sent to the grammar school of Francesco d’Urbino, in Florence, There he profited little, spending his time in drawing and in visiting the etudios of different painters with his sworn friend, Francesco Granacci, then a pupil of the brothers Ghir- landajo, to whom, when he found resistance useless, his futher articled him for three years, on the under- standing that he was to learn drawing and painting, make himself of use and receive twenty-four golden florins, He was now fourteen years of age. His mas- ters were engaged in repainting the choir of the Church of Santa Maria Novella, as Oreagna’s frescoes had been spoiled by the rain coming through the roof. One day, when Jeft alone in the chureh, the young pupil drew the scaffolding and the men at work ina way that sur- prised his masters, who set himatonce to help them with the frescoes, Condior and other contemporaries say that Dominico Ghirlandajo was jealous of his pupil, and taught him as little as possible, Be that as it may, when Lorenzo di Medici asked Ghirlandajo to send his two best pupils to the new academy of sculp- ture and painting, he selected the two friends, Granacci and Michael Angelo, The latter, delighted with the figures which Torrigiano, another student, modelled in terra cotta, set to work to imitate him, and succeeded | 80 well that Torrigiano grew jealous, picked a quarrel | with him, and by a violent blow from his fist broke the bridge of Michacl Angelo’s nose, and thus disfigured the hitherto handsome lad for life. Lorenzo, who had con ceived a great affection for Michael Angelo, was so Angered that Torrigiano had to quit Florence. Lorenzo, to insure the progress of his profégé, requested Michael's | father to allow him to live entirely in his palace. That independent citizen at first demurred, but at last Michael | Angelo was installed in the Medici Palace as asou | of the house. ven at public receptions he was | always scated at Lorenzo's right hand. The lad studied with Poliziano, and, by the advice of Bertoldi, learned the art of casting in bronze and devoted himself to Donatilli's models, He executed a Madonna in bronze, | also the ‘Battle of Hercules,” with the contours in bas relief in marble, With the latter be would never part, and 1t ig still preserved in the Buonaratte Palace. In painting he followed Masaccio and his favorite disciple, Filippo Lippi. In 1492 Lorenzo died, and though Piero continued his patronage the man’s coarse nature must have made its acceptance irksome, Of an in- nately pious turn of mind, he was powerfuily affected | by Savonarola’s preachings and predictions, Picro’s | cynical disregard of all warnings troubled him, and he gradually abandoned the Court, passing a great deal of time IN THR MONASTERY OF ST. SPIRITO, where the prior, for whom he had sculptured an ex- quisite crucifix in wood, procured him corpses for his anatomical studies, During his first experiments tn | dissecting his repugnance to his task was so great that he fainted; but, conscious of the necessity of such | studies, he conquered his weakness, and to the last hour of his life anatomy was his favorite study. He now resolved on a journey to Venice. On bis journey be wasarrested at Bologna and refused to be liberated unless his companions were set free also, He then de- Vermined to remain with Aldoviandi, in Bologna, and the latter procured him an order to complete the sarco- phagus containing the bones of St, Domenico, which was commenced by Nicola Pisano and continued by Nicola Schiavi, whose death suspended the work. Michael Angelo finished the figure already commenced and also sculptured a kneeling angel, holding a candela. | Drum, But intimidation and “rattening” were rife im | those days as in these, Michael Angelo was THRRATENED WITH THE DILESY VENGKAXCE If he accepted other commissions in Bologna. Piero dej Medici had been expelled from Florence, and Savonarola was now its real ruler. Returning to his | Hative city, anothor Lorenzo dei Medici, brother of old Casinio, took Lim in hand, For bim he execated St | | pleting the Mausoleum. | let not sorrow take hold of you. Jobe, aad om his own accouns @ cupid, The cupid NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 9 any 1875.--QUADRUPLE SHEET. 5 having been buried to give it the appearance of age, was sent to Rome, and by Cardinal San Giorgio pur- chased as an antique. On his first visit to Rome, hear- ing thatthe Cardinal had discovered and was angry at the cheat, he went to him and demanded it back, But | the Cardinal prized it too highly forits intrinsic worth, and said that be would break it into a thousand pieces sooner than part with it, So the author, in the midst of “the beautiful things” that delighted him in Rome, set to work to see what things of beauty he could bim- self produce. is drunken Bacchus, which so out- raged Shelley, was 18 VIRST WORK IN THE PAPAL CITY, When be returned to Florence in 1500, just two years after Savonarola had been burned at the stako, he re ceived s commission trom Cardinal Piccolomini for fifteen statuettes in Carrara marble to be placed in the chapel of the Cardinal’s family im the Cathedral of Sionna, Ju the same year the Guild of Santa Maria del Fiore obtained from the government @ certain piece of marble spoiled by Agostino D’Antonie, Leonardo da Vinei and Sansovino had applied for this block, but Michel Angelo was chosen by the guild to fashion # statue out of {t, In one year be produced his Davids ‘The placing of this statue gave rise to much bad blood. The sculptor wished it placed in the porch of the Palazzo Veccluo, and his wish was granted by the gonfalonieri; but Leonardo da Vineland other great artists of the day objected to the removal of Donatelli’s Judith. In its transfer trom the studio to the palace it was necessary to have the David guarded by a special watch, as the populace threw stones and committed other riotous acts, But in that porch it stood until last year, when, fearing the effects of further exposure, the Florentines had it re- moved to the Academy of Fine Arts. This statue was, at the order of the Signora, cast in bronze, In 1508 the copy was embarked at Leghorn for Fri and sent, says Varcht Vasari, asa present to the King of France ; but all traces of it are lost at the present day. ‘the Guild Santa Maria del Fiore were probably pleased with their David, for in 1603 they gave the sculptor commission for statues of the Apostles. The gonfalonieri of jFlorence had summoned him to paint one of the walls of the Grand Council Chamber, and as Leonardo da Vinel THAT ENCYCLOPEDIC GENIUS, was at work on his grand cartoon for the same hall we can imagine the joy of tho young artist that he should be deemed worthy of such companionship, In the midst of his work for his cartoon Michael Angelo was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius IL, who gave him the commission for that fatal mausoleum which proved the bane and torture of his after life. It was to be placed in the Basilica of St. Peter’s—the St. Peter's of that day—one of the earliest monuments of Christian architecture. Nicholas V. had begun to en- Jarge the church, and a new tribune was nearly fin- ished. The Pope ordered San Gallo and Bramante, the two most renowned architects of the day, to present plans for a new cathedral. Bramante’s were preferred, and, although San, Gallo was his own friend and pro- tector,’ Michael Angelo voted most decidedly in their favor, and San Gallo left Rome in anger, Michael Angelo set to work on M18 DESIGNS POR TIE MAUSOLEUM, of which it is beleved that the pen-and-in «ravi y in the Uffici of Florence is the most perfect sketch « <kant. ‘The Pope was delighted with the design, and pai fre- quent visits to the artist’s studio by # covered passa se which he had built for the purpose, Bramante soon grew jealons of this conscientious, hard working, seri_ ous artist, aud during his second journey to Carrara ins. trigued against him So that on’his return Michael An- gelo found the palace doors closed against him, and with difficulty obtained money to pay the stonecuttersy Finally, one morning, writes Condict, as he was enter- ing the audience chamber, the Pope’s cup bearer pre yonted him, saying, “Pardon! I have orders to exclude you”? “You do not know to whom’ you are speaking!” ex- claimed @ bishop, entering at the moment.” “I know yulte well,” retorted the man, “but my or- ders are peremptory and I must obey them’? Michael Angelo then said to thé valet;—“Then, tell the Pope’ that, should he require me henceforward, he must seck me'elsewhere,”? Returning to his studio he ordered his two servants to soll all his furniture and follow him with the proceeds to Florence; took post horses, and at two hours past midhight halted at Poggibonsi, twenty miles from Florence. Julius sent messengers after him with orders for his return, but the indignant sculptor replied “that his good and faithful services had deserved other re- quital; that he had been turned from the Pope’s pres- end as one unworthy, and that, since His Holiness no longer cared avout the Mausoleum, he held himself ab- solved fein [is former engagements and would enter into no new ones,” The Gonfalonicre of Florence was delighted to have him back, but THE POPE WAS NOT TO BE TRIPLED WITH, “All health and our apostolic benediction to our well beloved frtends,” he writes to the members of the | hear that Michael | Florentine government. “We Angelo, the sculptor. who left us capriciously and in wrath, fears to return, We feel no anger agaist him, knowing the moods and humors of men of his stamp. Let him, therefore, lay aside all suspicion, and we, reminding you of the obedience that you owe to us, we authorize you to promise in our name that if he will return to us he shal! remain free and be received with the same favor that he enjoyed before.’? But Michael Angelo was not to be mollifed, and Sodermi was obliged to inform the Pope’of his refusal, Other letters from the Pope followed, and at last the Gonfaloniere, summoning Michael Angelo, said to him:—“You have dared more with the Pope than the King of Franco would dare, Now it will not do to allow hit to entreat you longer ‘tn vain, We cannot go to war with the Pope for your sake, 80 make preparations to re- turn.” Still Michael Angelo resisted, ‘Then “the Florentine government appointed him Ambassador to the Papal court, and his reconciliation with Julius took piace at Bologna. There, by his orders, Michael Angelo moulded, and then cast tn bronze, the colossa} Statue of Julius, which was destroyed by the Bologuese, when they once more threw off the Pupal yoke, In the following year (1508), on the 10th of March, as one of his own memoranda informs us, the great artist com- menced the painting of the vault of the Sistine chapel, in Rome, in obedience to the Pope's new caprice, aud | quite against his own will, His heart was set on com, How he was harassed, first by the difficulty of the scaffolding, which he was obliged to invent; then by the damp plaster, then by the rest- | less, petulant impatience of the Pope, who, when the vault was but half completed, had the scaffolding taken down, and, with all Rome at his back, | entered, through clouds of dust, to gaze on the | wonders of his new ‘creation,’ his letters to his family wt this time show, He wrote that he was ead and in bad health, and exhibits profound filial love by telling his father that “he is not to stint bimseif, for whatever he needs, he (his son) will send, even though it be all he have. Do not lose heart,” he adds, “and If you have lost prop- erty life still remains fo you, and 1 will make up more than you have lost, Still Le careiul; my earnings are always doubtful, But keep up your courage, and thank God that this, his chastisement,. has come ‘at a time when it is easier to bear it than in other days it might | have been, Take care of your health, and part with | everything rather than suffer privation, For it is of supreme importance to me that you live, even as a poor man, [would not lose you for allthe money in the world, If people wili chatter and prattle why let them, ‘They are devoid of conscience and without love in their heart, The paintings in the Sistine chapel being completed, Michael Angelo returned to his studio and to his statue: although the Pope—old, ill and at war—seemed to have forgotten his once favorite hobby. For the three fol- lowing years Michael Angelo worked in his own house in Rome, He there, probably, commenced the Moses at which be worked just the forty years that the leader of the Israelites wandered iu the wilderness, To us, it seoms not ofily the grandest of the sculptor’s creations, | ‘but also the grandest work of art in Rome, MOSES LIVES POR Us, ashe lives not in the records of hia life and times, ‘There, on that brow, is written the power that con- | trolled, the patience that bore with, the perseverance that guided to their goal that stiff-necked, querulous, rebellious race, You understand the human passion tained, the agony gone through, the will that dominated self and all around. Michael Angelo there found vent for his own sufferings and struggles, the tompests of his own soul. How lovingly he totled, wow heaving at the marble with giant strength; now “fining” the muse aud the veins with the delicacy of a true surgeon's touch; now folding the drapery, no matter whether visible or concealed, tenderly a3 a mother sways the first born op her knee, One cannot gaze on the lone Ouse in he Church of St Pietro ia Vinculi without | time to feolng that he lace for all his pains, ; and here only the great genius foundso- | and the Inquisition was established in Rome. Actively Michael Angelo then took no part in politics at all, The year 1525 was reached, and artistic ques- | but probably—nay, from late light thrown on that tions were merged in political strife. The Pope a fugitive, Rome sacked, Florence once more in revolt against the Medici and freedom restored for one short, glorious, tinal moment. Michael Angelo was at work in the sacristy of San Lorenzo, for he lends the key to a certain Piero Gondi, who has “various articles which he wishes to conceal.” Bandinelli had fled with the Medics, and the much disputed block of marble is awarded by the new gonfaloniere men to Michael Angelo, He made a model for the Hercules and Cacus, which is now in the Keusington Musenm. The sculptor never tow the stone, which, by the Medici, on their return, was restored to Bandinelli, And — meanwhile matters were coming to @ crisis. Pope Clement was resolved ty reinstate his family, with or without foreign aid; the liberals were fora French alliance; Capponi, the gonfaloniere, half weak, half treacherous, hesitated, opened negotiations with the Pope. From the first he, and Michael Angelo, who ‘was appointed superintendent of the fortifications of Florence and tho chief cities of the province, were at Issue. While the “head architect and engineer” was at Pisa, or Leghorn, or Aregyo, the works he had ordered were suspended and sometimes destroyed; and, as ill fate would have it, Matalesta Baglione, °commander-in. chief of the Florentine army—archtraitor, as he proved in the end—was even more opposed than Capponi to tbe desperately-serious defences that the PATRIOTISM AND GENIUS OF MICHARL ANGRLO dictated, For days and nights he lived at bis watch tower of San Mintato, imspiring the peasants sum- moned tothe works with his own zeal and his fellow citizens with his own abnogatign. Florence, he knew, was fighting her last battle for liberty-nay, for life ttself— against such tremendous foos as the Pope and the Ger- man Emperor allied, with but dubious aid from the Duke of Ferrara and the Republic ot Venice, ‘The doca- ments of the time prove the great importance attached, by the governors of the different cities, to Michael An- gelo's presence. ‘Tosighi, Governor General, wroto let- ters on four successive days, saying that itis of “ex- ceeding necessity that Michael Angelo visits the cita- del of Pisa and the new works of Leghorn; that he de- cide on the works to be undertaken on the Arno.” Now, it is curious, that with such pressing matter on hand at home, that in July ho should have been sent by the Council of Ten to visit the fortifications and artil- lery and ammunition of the Duke of Ferrara, Michael Angelo himself told Busini that ho believed it was a manoeuvre of Capponi to get him out of the way, so that the works of San Miniato, which he deemed essential to the safety of the city, and which Capponi had declared useless, might be suspended, However, he obeyed, was taken over the fortitications by the Dulee himself, declined the imvitation of the Flor- entine Ambussador Galeotto Giugni to remain in his honse and returned inthe same month to find that by Capponi’s orders his bastions had been dismantled. Moreover, Mulatesta’s treachery was openly talked of, the soldiers murmured, and phtriotic citizens discussed the critical situation in fear and trembling, Michael Angelo, with his usual blunt frankness went straight to the Signoria and told them all that he had seen and heard. Instead of thanking him they answered him dis- courteously (gli pi detto villania) and rebuked him as a timid and too suspicious man. This fact alone would suffice to explain his second departure from the city of whieh-so much has been said and written, his enemies accusing him of cowardly flight and basest treachery, his friends and’ partisans in moden times DENYING, PALLIATING, DISTORTING IISTORICAL TRUTIE to defend him, Given the character of the man and the circumstances in which he found himself, his work de- molished, his counsels disregarded, himself insulted, it would be suprising had he acted otherwise. On tho 20th of thesame month a safe conduct was sent to him, He returned in time to save hif beloved tower, But while the Florentines could hold their own against the triple foes without, there was no possibility of counteracting the treachery within, On the 26th of January, 1530, the supreme command of the city was given to Malatesta by his infatuated fellow citizens. Mario and Michael Angelo and other clearsighted pa- riots exchanged their convictions, but RESOLVED TO DIX AT THEIR Posts, Michael Angelo, to dull the pain, employed his leisure hours, which were but too many, on his stat- ues, and also commenced the painting of “Leda and the Swan.” Until Terruccio was betrayed td his doom all hope was not lost, When he, too, succumb none lived’who could thwart Malatesta in his fell de- signs, Instantly, though Terruccio dicd victorious, ho sent to treat with Clement for the return of the Medici, and on the 8thof August they returned, and the three centuries of slavery and degradation to which Italy suecumbed tay be dated from that hour. The citizens who had taken the foremost part against the Medici left the city, Michael concealed himself in the red tower of St. Niccolo, at the foot of San Mineato, Even for this he has been reproached, as if there would have been any use or com- mon sense in exposing himself to tho vengeance of his enemies, just when Malatesta, to curry favor with the Pope, had handed over to him the Dominican monk who had excited the people to rebellion, But the Pope was a Medici and the Medici wanted their sacristy finished, and coaxed him from his hiding plac In his studio he poured all his grief and rage into his work, In a few months he completed his “Night and Day,” his * Dacore” and “Twilight,” ‘That grief and work nearly killed him at this time we know from a lotter written by Antonio Mucio to Boccio Valori, which describes him as thin and emaciated, overworking, eating little and sleeping less, suitering from rheumatism, headache and giddiness, If he be allowed to work in the cold, damp sacristy there will be an end of him.” Mucio was sure then he is “ill in heart as well as head” for the Rovere, the heirs of Julius, were clamoring for their monument, accusing him of having received the money without giving its equivalent, Yet, without the Pope’s permission he would not quit Florence, He sent his dear godson, Sebastian del Piombo, then a great man, with fresh pro- posals to be laid before the Pope, Sebastian placed the matter before the Pope, and Clement allowed the sculp- tor to visit Rome, though reluctantly, were gone into there, and it was proved that Michael Angelo had only received 5,000 ducats, instead of 16,000, as the Rovere heirs of Julius asserted, Again, a fresh con- tract was agreed upon, and then Clement insisted upon Angelo’s return to Florence to finish the sacristy. But, on the 25tin of September, 1634, Pope Clement died, and | Alexandro, the bastard Medici, became Duke of Florence. Michael Angelo detested the new Duke; but the latter, who returned the dislike, still had need for him, Nothing would suit the new tyrant but a fortress from which he could point guns against the people crushed, but, as yet, all unresigned, request him to survey the city, In company with himeelf. “yon VRNGO, ’ “I SHALL Nor come," was all the answer that the defender of San Munato vouchsafed, The commission was given to the nephe of San Gallo, In the same year (1534) Bandinelli’s “Hercules”? was set up opposite Michael Angelo's “David.” The great sculptor went to Rome with the firmest intention of completing the Mausoleam; but, again, he reckoned without his host, Clement in thetr last interview had wanted bim to prepare designs for painting the “Fall of the Angels’? and the ‘Last Judgment,” and he bad at first refused, alleging the too numerous commissions already on laud. became angry and would give him no help for the con- tract with the Rovere, so he agreed to make the d The accounts He sent his General, | Vitelli, to offer Michael Angelo the commission and | | nor stolen. discussed | period, we say certainly—he them all with Vittoria Colonna, with whom at this time he formed that friendship, on his side so tender and so strong, which formed the only solace of his life. He needed some comfort, for he had | Jost his father, favorite brother, Buonarotti; and some | of the other brothers, who only looked upon him as « | mint to coin money for their asure, seem to have created dissensions. ‘There are letters from Michael Angelo to his futher which make one weep to read, MICHAEL ANGELO @ND VEPTORTA COLONNA, Of Viitoria’s many lecters to Michael Angelo but two are printed, T read very cold and even pedantia. The miniature painter Fraunso d’Ollanda gives us, how- ever, | | | A PLEASANT GLIMPSE of their intercourse, and, according to him, the Marquis Pescare was happy in drawing the sculptor from his solitude and in getting him to discuss art and other sub- jects. But in 1641 Vittoria left Rome, Paul UL was dead, and a Garatta, enemy to the Colonna, ruled in his stead. It is known that eight of his letters written at this period are among the treasures bequeathed to Florence. We hope that they are kindlier than the one in whieh she begs him to write less, as so much writing inust hinder him trom being at his work betimes, even as it hinders her from evening converse with the sisters of the convent of St. Caterina, How that letter must have chafed the proud, sensitive heart! In 1547 came the final pain, Vittoria had returned to Rome and re- tired to the convent of the Benedictines, As her illness. increased she was conveyed to the palace of the sole relation left to her in Rome, Michael Angelo, admitted to her dying bea, bent over her and kissed her hand, He afterward lamented to Condivi that he had not also kissed her lips and brow, Hus four sonnets to her memory are fine, as everything he wrote or aid, Each contains a separate idea, but they are not by any means his finest. Those to Tommaso dei Cavalier are far more beautiful. The letters to his nephew, and to others about him, give us the only glimpses we have of the inner life of the great genius, who, tortured by physical pain and worried by the conflicting clams of the rival aspirants for his work, never really enjoyed an hour's peace. “Last Judgment,” he hoped to be left to finish the “tragedy of the sepulchre,” as Condivi styles it, in peace, But Paul insisted on new frescoes from his band for the walls of the new Capella Paoliaa which be had added to the Vatican. THE HEIRS OF JCLIUS now lost all patience and there was a fresh trouble, Michael Angelo wag deeply stung by the accusations brought ayainst bim, and addressed to him personally by that type of successful vice, Aretino, who at first loaded him with fulsome flattery, then, in one of the coarsest epistles ever penned, denounced him as a teacher of immorality, a desecrator of sacred place and a thief. He could not paint, he told Paul, with his mind thus distracted, for “painting is done by the head as well ag the hand.” Finally, the Urbini and Provell agreed to be satisfied if only he would finish the Moses. with his own hands, He set to work on the crucifixion of St Peter and = the conversion of St.Paul for the Panolina chapel, In this work he injured his leg by a fall, and, shrinking from exposing his bodily as well as his imental sutfer- ings, he shut himself up in his houso alone, till an old friend, Dr. Baccio Rontini, climbed in at the window and nursed him back to strength, In 1546 Antonio San Gallo, the architect of St. Peter's, died, and the Pope nominated Michael Angelo as his successor, MIS WORK AT ST. PRTER'S, After many misgivings he accepted, on the express condition that his work should be gratuitous, He had seen the foundation stone laid by his treacherous foe, Bramante, during his lifetime, and after his death registered his opinion that the design was perfect. “Bramante,’? he wrote to one Bartolomeo, “was one of the most able architects since the times of the ancients, His first design for St. Peter's is clear and compact, well lighted on all sides; so situated as in way to interfere w! the Vatican Palace, Whoever departs from his design, ag San Gallo has done, departs from the rules of art itself,” In this letter Angelo shows that to complete San Gallo’s model the Puolina chapel and part of the Sistine must be destroyed, and proposes that San Gallo’s work be pulled down and Brarmante’s original plan ad hered to. “This,” he concludes, “is my impartial opin- jon, If 1 am to undertake the work it will be greatly to my disadvantage. Please lay these statements before the Pope.” He then prepared a model in wood, so that if he died in the meantime the dome might be com- pleted. This underiaking was a fresh souree of grief and heart-burning to him. Under San Gallo the work no { : } had been an endless source of profit’ to many persons, Michael Angelo dismissed all the drones and the dishonest contractors. | We may fancy the enemies that were thus created, even without the following letter:—“"You know that I have ordered Bal- duccio to furnish only the best cement. He has sent in some of bad quality, and undoubtedly he must take it back. It is more than probable that there is an under, standing between him and those who receive the cement, for he was hand and glove with the men that [ have dismissed from the building for similar circumstances, He who received materials of inferior quality, materials that L have forbidden to be received, makes friends of those whom I have made my foes, ‘There seems to ve a new conspiracy on foot to clude justice by promises, gifts and fees. But I, in virtue of the authority con- ferred on me by tho Pope, order you to accept only first rate and suitable materials for the building. No other shall be accepted. No! NOT IP THRY COMB DOWN PROM HEAVEN, It shall never be said that I connived at these wretched machinations,” ‘This letter brought down the wrath of the curators, cardinals, salviati and cervini, and a cabal was formed. Pope Julius IIL, successor to Paul, was induced to summon a couneil and put Michael Angelo on his defence. He went to the council in per- gon, The cardinals, who had made no end of com- plaints of money uselessly spent, of the work being done without consulting them, only lamented the “want of” light in the interior. “There are three more windows to be placed above the present tier,” answered the chief architect, “You never told us that such was your intention,” answered Jerome. “It was no duty of mine to do so, Neither to Your Excellency, nor to any one else, will I pledge myself to declare my intentions. Your business is to provide the necessary funds and see that they are neither wasted alone,” ‘Then, turning to Julius, he said:—‘Holy Father, you know what I receive for my pains. If my work doos not help the salvation of my soul, time and fatigue will have been spent for naught.” “Neither your temporal nor spiritual welfare shall suffer,” answered the Popo, extending his hand to the dauntless old man; and after that defeat the Sangal- liste never attempted again to “beard tho lion in his den,” but confined themselves to underhand plots, Ho does not seem to have returned to Florence after he un- dertook that gigantic and gratuitous work, but his cor- respondence with Léonardo was frequent and genial, | The Popo | signs, Scbastian del Piombo prepared the walls; but, | contrary to Michael Angelo’s wish, prepared them to receive an oil painting. ‘This made Angelo very angry | with his “godson," aod he would not paint in oils, “Gt, he said , for women only.” But tho new Pope was a Farnese, and when @ Cardinal had been triendiy w Michael Angelo, who had designed two candelabra for | him, He was told that he was to consider himself ex. clusively at the Pope's service, Vainly he pleaded for finish his Mausoleum, Once he decided to Liguria aud work under the protection of the Bishop, who was a pro- tégé of the dead Julius and sided with the heirs in wanting the monument completed, But Paul was Pope, and living popes must be obeyed, even when weak, before the strong one is dead. He undertook to quiet the heirs, and Michael Angelo, having seraped off the cement of his godson Sebastino, set to work on the “Last Judgment,” of which gigantic work we can form no adequate idea, as later popes had the nude figures clothed with hideous drapery, dirt, dust and neglect ad- ding their “defacing fingers.” At this painting Michael Angelo worked for eight consecutive years, living alone, attended by his faithful servant and colors grinder, Urbino, whose death later caused him such &@ bitter paug. Now happoned the Reformation in Germany, to escape | in 1564 did his constitution really break up. Michael Angolo’s last work in sculpture, commenced im 1545 and worked at as long as he could hold a chisel, ts another Picta,’ a dead Christ, lying in His mother’s jap, and Joseph standing by her side, Then, at Cua’ liert'’s entreaties, he drew the two 2oman women, with plaited hair, so well known by photographs—the “Rape of Ganymede,” and a group of naked children round @ | lighted Gre, over which a bear is being boiled in caldron, After Casino’s visit. he sent plans to Florence fora new chureh, and had them copied by Teberic Calcaqui., He wrote sonnets to the last. Only Even then it wag bus an intermittent fever that undermined the little strength left, Thomas Cavalieri was with him to the last, and Daniel de Valtena and Frederick Donate, the physician, Kyven then the end must have come suddenly, for Leonardo, who had begged to be summoned, was called Inte, Michacl Angelo at the very jo his will in these words:—“I leave my soul to body to the earth, my worldly possessions to my relations.” Ho expired on the 18th Febroary, 1564, and aftor funeral ceremonies in the St. Apolloir, m Rome, was, an by stealth, conveyed to Florence, and then borne by his relations and brother artists to Santa Croce, where his ashes still repose. D SUICIDE, John B. Cannon, thirty-two years of age, residence unknown, jumped into the North River at pier 28 y terday morning for the purpose of committing suicide, as he afterward stated, as be was tired of life, but Was rescued by u citizen, He was sent to the Park Hospital ATTEMY” Oneo more, on the completion of thee| ‘The designs of the baiiding concern me | tan | maa CREEDMOOR. THE TURF, FIELD AND FARM BADGE MATCH-— THE LAST COMPETITION TO eCT A TEAM FOR THE CANADIAN CONTEST—THE IRISH- AMERICAN CLUB CUP MATCH, ‘The splendid weather brought out yesterday a greatly increased number of riflemen to Creedmoor. There were three matches shot during the day, The first was the third long range competition to select from members of the Am r le Club @ team of eight to shoot gainst an equal number of Canadians on the 25th inst., the second was the third monthly contest for the second Turf, Field and Farm bacge, and the urd the match for the Irish-American Rifle Club eup, . THE LONG RANGE CoMPRTETION, ‘Yhis was the third and last competition for the pur- pose of choosing an“American team to shoot the ap- proaching international imateh at Creedmoor with the Victoria Rifles; of the Dominion of Canada, on the 24th of the present month, The two previous competitions took place on the 4th and Sth inst., respectively. Originally there were ten entries, but only half of this number completed their scores ou all the days, Al- though the weather was good yesterday, the practice was wretched, and the result of the competition seems to be that the Amateur Club will run imiinent risk of being defeated, or be obliged to call to their aid at least half the members of the famous American team, THR SCORES IN THE THIRD COMPETITION, SEL Yards, I, S. Sewell, 800, 45543445455533 508 900... 5554245553545 5 4-66 1000, $35242525645245 4-55-1895 W. B. Farwell, ‘800, 04450504454525 5-52 900, 2243454324235 46 1000... 6355345056442 2052-150 A. Anderson. 5308538444534 5 0-51 042384553002224 4-40 255845845303 003 444-135 F. Hyde. 8454534633355 54—-01 020042022324325—1 8043350230305 4 38-130 A. J. Hennion, Jr. 04544322420355 24432025205030 42335003528204 H. Madison, 52424324540040 2352203533352 4 oR 230 838082 George Crouch, 00822458553344 200 44530043 50230230800010 BR, Rathbone. 0000343533353 0000R00002005 0242454405000 ¢ V. Canfietd, Jr. OF3852244383445 900, B26524252438 24 1,000 Retired. The aggregate number of points made by the con- testants who completed the three competitions aud their positions on the team are as follows :— Totals, H. 8. Jewell... 5, 185—527 W. B, Farwell , 150-488 166, 130431 +163, 125, 102—380 +142) 1d) 37 Si—37 G . R. Rathbone... E. H. Madison... «103, 127, L11—a4b ‘The gross total of the above scores sums up to 2,539 points out ofa possible 4,050, or a little better than fifty per cent of a full score. THE TURP, PIRLD AND PARM BADGR MATCH, Yesterday's contest for the Turf, Field and Farm badge had the greatest number of entries of any single match that has yet taken place on the grounds of the National Rifle Association, There were eighty-nine entries altogether, The distance, as usual, was 200 yards; any rifle within the rules; position, standing, without any artificial rest; seven rounds per man. ‘The match was advertised to come off at twenty minutes after three o'clock, but did not commence until after four. The shooting lasted about un hour and twenty minutes. The winner, Mr. Robertson, who made the splendid record of forty-four out of a possible fifty points, shot with an open-sighted regulation Remington military rifle, The same description of gun won the badge last month on the same number of points. SCORES FOR TUK TURP, FIKLD AND PAKM BADGE. Totals, W. Ry J.T. rs obertson Shhh ee PS Samuel G. Sel | ‘Thomas Lioya. D. © Pinne CE D, Chamey, Jr, W. ©, Clark. . B. Burton. 8. Clark. Y. Hotele.. B. Farwell. FOP RRR OCHRE RRO ROO REE OREO OEE SORES RON COP CK CL REN CHORE RE OO OEE CR RE RE RENE EEE CREE RE ROR REO ORE REE OR SOE REL OCORR EO ROTOOREEHOD ROCKRECCHEHUROOREE MEK Cm EL J. B, Frothingham J. G. Story Joseph Ross W. Stuart. E, De Fo W. J. MoGrath.... L. H. Greve. S.C. Noone... W. W. Beavan A. V. Davi 8. T. Hubbard. L. H, Schultz, etree SH SREC RRO REPRE EN EEE EERO REE EEC ERO ROE A. G, Brow! H. W. Gourley. ROR OER EE CHO LEER EERO RHE CHEE ERGO RR EERE EEE RODEO EERE EEO EOE Edward Browne. .. H. H. Meday R. Rathbone | JK. Perley | J, J. Colina. | HL B. Dommick CHOC RMON RCE NEC RN RE ROK EN ORE RO REE EUR ECHR EERE CEE ERE REECE NEO RO DEAE REE EE ROE EEE ECR ECE RE COMO OME ME OHERE CN EEE SEER CHECHEN EE POR SHE CEC EE OR EE NCEE CHORE REC EEE RENEE NEE RE DERE REE EERO ORES CRN ECO R ORE CER ERE EERE LORE COSMO RR COT REE E OCR REE RO REE ROC EEOC ER ER ERAS EE EEE ESE E DESEO OREO EERE PEER EEERE ORO COCO ORE NOCH OCCU MEO RRR R ESE ENR EERE OER ECO R EN EEE EO REE ROR OE REE ROOM OEE CREE ROE EE EEO OREO CON CROCE EER ES EHEC COE REE EEO EC REE EEC ER EEE EERO REECE EEOC OE EEE COE MMAR CRE CAREC ROR EEO COMME MEER MORTOMERO OEE EMER OEE REE f = 2 s S THE (Ris MERICAN CLUB MATCH, ‘The regular monthly contest for the Irish American Rifle Club Cup was sliot yesterday at 200 aud 600 yards, soven rounds at each distance, any rile within the | likely to be any cre } looking citizen soldiers are made, STILL ABOY Catholic Church Pretensions in Canada. E GROUND. The Conflict Over Guibord Politi- eal, and Not Religious. —e MILITARY Mowrrean, Canada, Sept. 11, 1875. The Guibord affair is likely to assume @ more come plex and dangerous phase than ever, It has until a few hours ago been a mystery to me, why, with»the Queen's order as their authority and the entire mflitary force of Montreal at their command, the friends of the dead man did not proceed at once with his burial, To the calm, impartial observer each passing hour mot only reveals the cautiousand subtle cunning-which both the Institute Canadian and the Roman Catholic Churel advocates are using to defeat each other's purposes, but also develops some new and startling facts, Hence, it is probable that in the sequel will be found the reason Why Guibord was not interred to-day, The decree of the Privy Council was that Guibord should be buried ip the Cemetery of Coto des Neges, tn the consecrated ground wherein the Church had solemnly deposited the remains of his wife, The Bishop of Montreal, as stated in my telegram of last night, announced, under his own official signature, that, in’ case Guibord was buried, he would hurl upon lis grave the maledictions of the Church. Just here, then, is the point When I asked one of the most noted and prominent members ot the Institute Canadian why they did not inter Guibord im- mediately he replied:—*We aro WAITING FOR THE BISHOP TO CURSE the ground. When he does that he violates the desree of government and the mandate of the Queen, Them we can sue him for $40, $50, $60 or even $100,000 damages, It would not be a nice thing for the Bishop of Montreal to be involved in a civil suit for damages because he dared to disobey the orders of hia Sovereign, We think the Bishop’s letter. com- promised him, He, in our opinion, has, been con- sistent throughout, He objected to our Institute be- cause there were certain volumes in it that,Catholics should not read, We at once assured him of our. ignorance of the fact and sent him one of our catalogues, with the request that he Would cross out names of all books that were objegtion- able, He refused to do this, When Guibord died the Bishop refused to bury him because he was a member of the Institute Canadian; but why did he not refuse to bury many other members of the society who have died since and whose bodies now rest in consecrated ground under the holy syadow of the cross ¥”? In this brief interview there can be discerned the bit- terness with which each party is seeking to annoy the other. The Bishop bas not as yet cursed the ground, and it is a matter of graye doubt whether he ever, will curse it, for should he do so the universal sentiment of the Institute Canadian, I find, is to at once ar- *RIOTOUS « WAKERS.” aign him before” & court Of Juiticn, This, of course, would be entirely independent — ol any action” which might, “in the interim, be taken by any of the law: officers of the crown. f mentioued in my first letter that there was Something underlying this question of the burial of Guibord, Fuller investigation enables me to go.a little further, THE CHURCH IS INTENSKLY POLITICAL, Kclaims to be superior to every authority of the State, and its organs preach complete submission to the laws ‘of God—that is, that every Bishop is Grand Vicaire. ‘The Church espouses the cause of the conser- vative party, of which Sir John A, McDonald is chief in the Dominion, and Hon. C, Boucher de Boucherville in the province. ' The liberals, who are in power at Ottawa bat in opposition in ' Quebec, are hated the clergy. yare denounced from every pulpit ag of the sainie kid Communists and Socialists of Jurope, and the simple, ignorant. people of the country parishes are taught to regard them as little better than wol ‘Through the continued supremacy of the con- servatives in Quebee politics the Chureh has managed to full into the possession of rich patronage, Reforma. tories have been handed over to religious bodies like the Belgian Brotherhood, who receive in the neighbor. hood of $200 per head per annum for the maintenance of juvenile criminals whom they Keep employed in their own shop: ng the proceeds of their labor. Nunneries are made b tor fallen women and tythg-in hospitals, Vast edueatioual establishments have grown up from the’ expenditure of public: money which are under no oft trol, and whose directors are abso- lutely irresponsible, and so On todhe end of the chapter. The result has been that in Montreal, Quebec and Three Rivers the Church has been amassing vast wealth, Imn- posing church edifices of all kinds are going up, and the , OUT OF THEIR PLETHORIC TREASURIES, go further’ and deal largely ip real estate. They own block after block of magnificent warehouses. A whole street of palatial stores belongs to them within a pistol shot of where L write, and they bave mach new work of the kind om the way, ‘They pay no taxes, and there- e have the lay property holier at an advantage ct alfurd to be tore generous than the ndlord, Now, it is well known to be the tion of the local government at the next session te bring in a measure placing the control of the public schoois directly in the hands of the clergy and with. drawing Whatever of responsibility to the educational department on the part of the school authorities re- muatins, It is also understood that in obedience to a resolution recently arrived at by the Provincial Council of Bishops that the government will introduce a meas ure defining the status of a priest before the civil law— that is to say, removing him beyond the operation of the law incivil matters and leaving him altogether to the jurisd f the ecclesiastical court. There are none such in Canada, be tt remarked, nor are there ed for the < IMENT OF MISBENAVING PRIESTS. The cases this law is intended to provide for would be something like this:—When a man‘*has been censured from the pulpit unjustly, his character defamed, or in- jary to him done in any way, he now sues the priest im Supreme Court for damages. There have been ‘al cases of this kind recently, aud they ure bitter pills indeed to the clergy, Judge Routheir dismissed 4 case of the kind at Sorel last year on the ground that priest speaking from the altar was not amenable to thé for But the Court of Revice reversed decision and awarded costs The clergy naturally look with dread upon laws by which their weapons of offence may be rendered powerless. Moreover, the liberals are de- tormined to clip the claws they have found so danger- ous. ‘They are favorable to the abolition of the law ex- empting chureb property from taxation and are doubttul on of titles, ‘They ure opposed to farming criminals, and they look with a favorable eye upon the Institute. be seen that, should the Liberal party ancy in this province the effect upon the Church would be a heavy material loss, | The claim of supremacy, then, had to be sustained, at | whatever cost, but it was never imagined that the struggle would’be carried to that bitterest of all biter ends, an appeal to England. There was some comimotion in the east end this afternoon owing to the report that the burial would be attempted without the assistance of the military. Con. sequently, a large numper of French Canadians turned out mto St. Lawrence, the main street, which is thé route to the cemetery generally taken by funerals, They were of the working class altogether, and if they were out with a riotous intention they kept their own counsel very closely and behaved fn a very orderly manner. The Victoria rifles were ordered to parade at the drill shed, and to proceed to the camp af Lachine. Asthe men hurried down in their dart grven and searlet uniforms and jaunty | forage. caps, worn on tne side of the head, they were looked at an | after with wicked eyes by these enfuns du sol, whe have reason to know of What sort of metal these slight ‘The Prince of Wales? regiment, w heavier body of men, received their arma last night, and both regiments were largely augmented by reeruits, who, Iain informed, were still in’ great numbers applying to be enrol Armed men still guard Guibord’s remains, ~The probabilities are that he will be buried next week. The Institute will not con. duct the obsequies in private, But in public, It will be a remarkable funeral indeed, ‘A CATHOLIC PRELTION TO THR QUEEN. his langua, rules; position, standing at 200 yards and any without artificial rest at 600 yards, THE BCORRS. Totals. 4334 4—27 4545 | 4533 | | B. Burton, 344334 | 4a4aa | Jd Meagher, Bo4add | | W444eas | TR Murphy..eesseeesere {3000 43533 | bs 200-3 43438 | Edward Dufly........ io 325038 | | 2 334038 J.J, Coin. ssseeseseree f 4503 | 2003 24.5 23 B22 | KE. Browne... seeseees ) 500-2 3025 4 4—20—42 | | | Some new targets of home een received al the ranges YY Wore set up and fired against, It is not known yet bow they will stand the itnpact of the balls, Major Fulton thinks that canvas targets hung in iron frames—the same ag used at | Wimbledou—should be adopted. nunufacture that had | BLASTING ACCIDENT. 4 at the Coroners’ Office yes- | terday afternoon of the death of Alice Shedden, aged | five years, residing at No, 55 East 121st street, (rom tne | juries received at half-past seven o'clock on the morn- Information was re | romaine. Potitions are being circulated throughout the city and the dioceses surrounding for all Catholics to siga praying Her Majesty to revise the decision made by the Privy Council concerning the burial of Guibord’s ‘The petitions are being eagerly sig All is quiet at the cemetery, Last night volun teer guards acted in such a rowdy manoer that the ser. geant in command of the regulars publicly requested them not to come to his assistance any longer. & | number of them came on duty drunk last night DEATH. OF PATRICK LAVELLE, SEQUEL TO ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH DISASTER. Putrick Lavelle, one of the victims of the St Andrew's church disaster, died yesterday at St, Vin- cont’s Hospital. Lavelle was seated in the gallery when the roof was crushed by the falling wall of the adjoin- ing store. He was struck across the back by one of the rafters, his spite bemg broken by it. He lay for over two hours before he could be extricated, had Nogered ever since in intense, suffering until death re- jeased him. He was a native of Ireland and twenty. six years of age. Coroner Eickhof will hold the tm quest. AN ENGINEER RUN OVER. John W. Kniffin, aged thirty-five years, of Mount | ing of t jous from being struck by a piece of | tone thrown from a blast at L2Ist street and Fourth | avenue, When the accident cecurred the litte girl was, bedroom und was Just getting up out of bed, er Kickhot will make an investigation urden is now hunti up evidence + he who fred the blast, ner Kisco, an engineer employed at the Grand Central de. pot, while attempting to board an engine in motion af Forty-ninth street and Fourth avenue, fell and was ram over by the train, the wheels passing over Ins left leg, and Cap-"| severely injuring it, He was attended by Dr, ees at the Numeteenth sub-precinct stavou house ne Nineteenth p “ ‘which be was removed te