The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-05-03
THE FIRST WORK Or MICHAEL
ANGELO.


aio Al the Age of thirteen, and per-
formed lcais naeqaalled ia the annals
OF art. he seldom bad his work cor
nsued. a. hes copy always surpassed
she original His master being a sa-
perior man himself, AID capsule q
approaching talent wherever found,
I encouraged bis pupil in sllese ieyelop-
menis q youthful excellence. Not
so wisb his companions. They could
( not look upon their young rival with
complaeence, for genius OF this char
acter could NOT be suffered 10 exist in
a lad Of thirteen years. Michael An.
gelo hsd therefore to endare their ILL.,
treatment.
Ouee our youthful artist took oc-
casion io criiicse tie design Of one Of
Bis fellow-workmeu, and thefeapon be
received such blow from tie exas-
perated man, that i broke the carli-
lage OF lis nose--from which cause il
remained crooked through life.
| One day Angelo entered the grounds
Of tie Medici. He there beheld tieas.
ures Of art, which Loienzo The Mag
nifcient bad collected. such as be ne
yer beheld before. Struck with their
antique beauty, an instructive jealousy
1 prompted him, not only to initiate, but
to excel those exquisite productions.
/ Procuring a block Of marble, lie d.
vested himself Of his outer garments,
aud, seizing a chisel and hammer, he
began tie outlines OF faun's head.
The studio Of his former master
was deserted by him, to the no small
qualification Of bis fellows, who re-.
| joiced that they we're at last rid of
their detesled and hated rival, whose
only crime consisted in his surprising
i talent.
One day, as Michael Angelo was
finishing his iaun's head, a man of
about forty, exceedingly plain in fea
lures, and dressed in the greatest neg
ligence, stopped opposite TO lim, and
silently observed him as hes worked.
Michael Angelo labored wiih arder,
/ without taking the slightest notice Of
/ Tie unknown, for whom he cared
about as much as for The dust that fell
beneath his chiscl.
When he bad given the finishing
stroke to his work, the youag man
drew back, after The manner Of artists
in general, So rs TO better Judge Of the
effect Of his performance, with which
he appeared perfectly satisfied. This
WIS apparently the moment awaited
/ by the spectator OF the scene, who,
slowly advancing, laid his hand upon
the young scnlptor's shoulder.
Friend, said tie, with smile,
will you allow me to make one re-
mark Z
| Michael Angelo turned round with
assurance. and with an air combining
contempt and insolence.
A remark You { said he, slow
Iy.
Or, in other words, if you like it
better, criticism continued the
stranger.
/ 'On my faun's head 2
On your faun's head, quietly an
swered The unknown.
And pray, who are you, sir, who
thus assume right 10 criticise my la
bory
IL can matter very little to you
who | am, if my criticism is correct,
said the stranger.
And who is TO decide between us
which Of the two is rigdF
Yourself fyou wish IT,
Well, sir, LET US hear-speak 2
said Michael Angelo, folding his arms
with an air Of deiianre.
Have you not intended to repre-
sent the grinning head Of an old
( iaun 2 asked the stranger.
Certainly--that is easy enough to
be seem
WE'LL suggested the cfitic,smiling,
where did YOU ever see an old man
with a perfect set Of teeth +.
The young man redeemed np tothe
eyes at this remark, and BIZ his lip
with yexaiion. The criticism was a
just one and waited I'LL she inlerlo-
cutor bad disappeared, he took the
cliisel, and, with a couple Of blows, he
( knocked Out ,wo Of the faun's teeth.--
As il was now growing late, he resol.
we'd to return the next day, and pat a
4 finishing stroke 10 his work.
The following morning, at an early
hour, Angelo repaired 10 the garden I;
/ but, 10 his grea. surprise, lis fauu had
disappeared, and IN its place was post
cd the stranger of the day before.
Where is my headS' angfiiy aek-
cd the young sculptor.
II hrs been removed by my or
ders, quietly answered the unknown.
And who are sou, sir, VITO thus
dare 10 give orders IL The garden of
Lorenzo the Magnificent Z
Follow me, and yog shall learn,
sa.a lhe stranger.
/ shall certainly follow you, and
oblige you 70 return nay fauis head.
/ Perhaps you wiil BE- glad 70 let i
remain shere il Is.
We shah see
We sAGH see
The stsaneef took the way q tie
palace With the same calm and iran
+ aAa manner. zpd vas arepsring to as