Literati at my studio, and their influence on my work—Calamatta's opinion of Tenerani, of Bartolini, and of myself—His defence of my Abel in Paris—Pius II.—Academicians and "Naturalisti"—Luigi Venturi—Prince Anatolia Demidoff and the Princess Matilde—The statuette in clay of the Princess Matilde is destroyed—Our minister Nigra presents me to the Emperor Napoleon III.—Beauty does not exist outside of nature—Praise puts one to sleep—The incoherence of Bartolini,
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The political reforms of the year 1847 in Tuscany—My first scholars—Ciseri, Prati, Aleardi, Fusinato, Coletti, and Chiarini the improvisatore—Inedited verses by Prati—Giuseppe Verdi—A digression on artistic individuality—The Emperor of Russia's visit to my studio—Reactionary movement of the 12th of April 1849—I am in danger of my life—The return of the Grand Duke,
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My wife, my little girls, and my work—Death of my brother Lorenzo—Death of Lorenzo Bartolini—The base for the "Tazza"—Eight years of work, only to obtain a living—Mussini and his school—Pollastrini—The school in Via Sant'Apollini—Prince Demidoff and the monument by Bartolini—The Nymph of the Scorpion and the Nymph of the Serpent, by Bartolini—Marchese Ala—Count Arese—The four statuettes for Demidoff—Amerigo of the Prince Corsinis—His Royal Highness Count of Syracuse, a sculptor—"Sant'Antonino" statue at the Uffizi,
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Close imitation from life—My illness—I am in danger of losing my life—Luigi del Punta, head physician at Court—The Grand Duke furnishes me with the means for going to Naples—I leave for Naples—A beggar impostor—Another and my boots—Sorrento—My Neapolitan friends—Professor Tartaglia and the hydropathic cure—The museum at Naples—Let us study the good wherever it is to be found—A strange presentation,