St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-03-31
THE FIRST WORK OF MICHAEL
ANGELO.

A~AAs 3ASSA svoAA1A W NAA~ A1iA H IL
The distinguished painter, sculptor and
architect, Michael Angelo Buanarstti, was
born in Tuscany in l474. He was put out
to nurse to the wife of sculptor, and may
therefore be said to have sucked sculpture
in his very milk. i;
He entered the studio cf GAirlanlajo at
the age OF thirteen, andperfornied feat, un-
equalled iu the annals cf crt.. lie seldom
had his work corrected, as his copy al
ways surpassed the original. His mas: er
being superior man himself, and capable
Of appreciatins talent wherever found, en-
l:eou-agetl his rupil in. those Developments
Of youthful excellence. Net SO with his
companions. They could not look upon
their youpg rival With 'c6mplacency, fol-
genius Of this character could not be suf.
fered to exist in a Ind of thirteen years
Michael Angelo had therefore 70 endure
their i'll treatp.ept., "'
Once our youthful artist took occasion to
critlcisc the design of one Of his fellow
workmen, and thcreupon he received such
70 blow from the exaspera,ed man that j,
.roke the cartilage Of his nose, from which
cause it remained crooked through .;fs.
One day Angelo entered the grounds OF
the Mcdici. lie there behell treasures OF
art, which Lorenzi the Magnificent had col
lccted, such as he never behcld before
Struck with their antique beauty, an in.
stirctitc Jealousy prompted him no, only
" to initiate, but 10 excel these exquisite pro-
duc:ions. Procuring block Of marble,
he divested himself of:his outer garments,
ard seising q chisel and hammer, lie began
the outlines Of faun's head. '
The studio Of his former master was de-
serted By him, to o':he'no small qualification
Of his fellows, who rejoiced tha, they were
| at last rid of their detestcd and hated rival,
whose only crime consisted in his surpas:s-
ing talent.
One day, as Michael Angelo was finish.
ing his faun's head, a man Of about forty,
exceedingly plain in feature, and dressed
with the greatest negligence, stopped op
!'posite to him, and silently observed him as
!; he worked. Michael Angelo laborcd will,
ardor, without. taking the slightest notice
i,of the unknown, for whom he cared about
''as much 'cs fc~ The duet that fell bencatl,
his chisel & ;.~>,. !;
l. When he had gwen The finishing stroke to
his work, the young man drew back, after
the, manner Of artists in generabt 50 as
better to judge Of the effect Of his per-
formance, with which he appeared perfect
ly satisfied. This was apparently the mo-
mcnt awaited By the spectator of the scene,
who, slowly advancing, laid his hand on
! the young sculptor's shoulder.
"Friend,' said lie with smile, "will
you allow ME to make one remark ~ :.
Michael Angelo turned round with as
surance, and with an air combining con-
tempt and insolence.
"A remark! You! ," said lie. slowly.
Cor, in other words, if you like It Set.
ter, q criticism continued the stranger.
"Oh my fauh's head" ;, :,
"On your faun's head,' quietly answer
ed the unknown.
"And pray what are you, sir, who thus
assume right to criticise my labor" :,
''1t can matter very little to you who ]
am, if my criticism is correct" said the
stranger. I'll"
''Ana who is to decide between US which
of the two is right?'
yourself, if you wish it," :,
well, sir, let us hear; speak," said Mi
chael Angelo, folding his arms with IN al,
Of defiance. .. ..... q w..
"Hass you. no. intendedAo repreke@t ih,
grinning head Of an old faun ," asked tht
stranger. y, 49,. -....:i -.
i''Certainly; that is easy enough to b,
seen-'',' .:. ".:s, ..r...-.... -.
:'Well' suggested the critic, smiling
"where did you ever see an ola MAN viii
perfect set of teeth ?'' a~~--
The young man reddened>up to the eye.
at this remark, and bit his lip With vexa
tion. The criticism was just one; and
waiting till his interlocutor had disappear
ed, he took the chisel, and, with coupl,
Of blows, he knocked out Two Of the Faun',
teeth. As it was now growing late, he re
solved to return the next day and put fin
ishing stroke TO his work. >. -. ~. .-