The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-04-01

ator WolcOtt- There was never another
like him. He was a curious compound
or great talent enormous self-conceit,
unbridled license, devOutness. impu-
dence, perfect ShameIesSness and reck-
less disregard of human life.
He thought no more of killing a man
than of taking a constitutional in the
streets of Rome. Kings, popes and
princes, for most of his life. were
counting him for his art or hunting
him for his murders. and though he
lived at a time when poison and the
poniard were everyday conVeniences-
he died at an advanced age, .peaceably
in bed, a deVOut son of the church, and
surrounded by all ecclesiastical com
forts.
Cellini was born in Florence in the
last year of the fifteenth century.
Cellini was said to have been the
greatest goldsmith of his age. He was
also a sculptor, but his artistic fame
rests almost solely upon his marvellous
skill as a designer and worker in gold.
Cellini Quarreled with nearly every
body of Importance he ever knew He
was no respecter of persons The king
or the pope who patronized him was
sure some day to incur his i'll Will. Then
his iHustriOuS patron was simply a
beast or anything that was disreput-
able or base, and Cellini took gains to
impart the fact to those who would be
sure to communicate it to the object
OF his abuse. Pope Clement VII was
the blessed friend and patron Of his
humble servant as long as he kept in
Celllnis good graces, but when the art
'lst quarreled with the pope. his hOli-
ness was merely an old fool who knew
nothing whatever about art. and if he
had any sense he would not attempt
to eriticise it. Pope Paul ~ was am
that the holy father of the church
could be till he listened to the lies that
rascals told about Cellini Then he
was a miserable wretch, who did rot
believe in God nor in any other form
Of religion What were pOpes and
kings, anyhow a great many persons
might be p0pes or kings. but there was
only one goldsmith. CeIlini was over
whelmed with favors by Francis 1,
VINO gave him a castle as a residence
in France, but the inevitable quarrel
came and the artist departed in high
dudgeon.
Charles Y of Germany was most gra-
cious in his brief intercourse with the
goldsmith of Rome, but probably the
only reason he remained a great ruler
IN CeliIn1s opinion was that the time
was too short for the artist to put in
the usual bin Of grievances
In adversely Cellini was always filed
with piety. He gioried in his sufferings
in the prison of ST Angelo. and count
thoughts TO holy things and that his
spiritual nature had a sadly needed
opportunity for development. but the
old Cellini breathed again when the
clouds rolled by He had no sooner
emerged from prison than he killed the
postmaster of Siena. who had accused
him of abusing a. horse. Leaving his
victim dead on the ground, CeIIini and
MS friends FASTENED to "a safe distance.
where they ordered a fine dinner and
made merry over the exciting adven-
ture-
3 The book he wrote when an old man
told the story of his long and troubled
life. The simple, swift moving mar
rattve is easy reading. and as it is all
about Cellini and his times the Incl
dents, to say the least. are of a stirring.
Order, and it viii always be valuable
as picture OF the days when assassin
alton was common and the best fruits
OF the Renaissance had not yet ma
tured.