Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-31
How a Boy was Hired Out, and What
Came of 1t.

When Michael Angelo was twelve
years of age, although he had had no
instruction in art, he did piece of work
which greatly pleased the painter Domin
leo Ghirlanda ajo. This artist at once
declared that there was lad of genius,
who must quit his studies, and become a
painter.
This was what the little Michael most
wished to do, but he had no hope that his
father would listen for moment to the
suggestion. His father, Ludovico Buona.
roti, was distinguished man in the state,
and held art and artists in contempt. He
had planned a great political career for
his boy, as the boy knew very well.
Ghirlandajo was enthusiastic, however,
and in company with the lad he at once
visited Ludovico, and asked him to place
Michael in his studio.
LudovIco was very angry, saying that
he wished his son to become prominent
man in society and politics, not dauher
and II mason; but when he found that
young Michael was determined to be an
artist or nothing, he gave way, though
most ungraciously. He would not say
that he consented to place his son with
Ghirlandajo; he would not admit that the
study of art was study, or the studio of
an artist anything but shop. He said to
the artist: 81 give up my son to you.
He shall be your apprentice or your
servant, as you please, for three years,
and you must pay me twenty. four horins
for his services"
In spite of the insulting words and the
insulting terms, Michael Angelo consented
thus 10 be hired out as servant to the
artist, who should have been paid by his
father for teaching him. He had to
endure much, indeed, besides the anger
and contempt of his father, who forbade
him even to visit his house, and utterly
disowned him. His fellow pupils were
jealous of his ability, and i'll treated him
constantly, one of them going so far as to
break his nose with blow.
When Michael Angelo had been with
Ghirlandajo about two years he went one
day to the Gardens of St. Mark, where
the Prince Lorenzo de Medici-who was
the great patron of art in Florence-had
established a rich museum of art works at
great expense. One of the workmen in
the garden gave the boy leave to trv his
band at copying some of the sculptures
there, and Michael, who had hitherto
studied only painting, was glad of a
chance to experiment with the chisel,
which he preferred to the brush. He
chose for his model an ancient figure of
faun, which was somewhat mutilated,
The mouth, indeed, was entirely broken
Oft but the boy was very self reliant, and
this did not trouble him He worked
day after day at the piece, creating a
mouth Tor it of his own imagining, with
The lips parted in laughter, and the teeth
displayed When he had finished and
was looking mt his work. man standing
near asked if he might offer criticism
YES" answered the boy, "if it is a
just one"
"Of that you shall be the judge said
the man.
Very well. What is itp"
"The forehead of your faun is old, but
the mouth is young, See, it has full set
of perfect teeth. A faun so old as this
one would not have perfect teeth"
The Lad admitted the justice of the
criticism, and proceeded TO remedy the
defect by chipping away two or three of
the teeth, and chiselling the gums so as to
give them a shrivelled appearance.
The next morning, when NJ ichael went
to remove his faun from the garden. it
was gone. He searched everywhere for
it. but without success. Finally seeing
the man who had made the suggestion
about the teeth, he asked him if he knew
where it was.
Yes" replied the man, "and if you
will follow me III show you where it is :"
"Will you give it back to mep made
it, and have right to it.
"Oh, if you must have it, you shall"