As for the rest of the monument of Julius II, it is not worth mentioning.[84] It is a caricature of the great project, but at least it was finished. Michelangelo was delivered from the nightmare of his whole life.[{108}]
CHAPTER V
OLD AGE AND DEATH
(1547-1564)
Michelangelo cared no longer for his own glory. He thought only of the glory of God, and art had become to him merely a means of service. He wrote, "I understand now how great is the mistake, the passionate delusion in which I made of art an idol and a king."
| L'affectuosa fantasia, |
| Che l'arte mi fece idol'e monarca, |
| Conosco or ben, com'era d'error carca....[85] |
His soul "had turned to that divine love which welcomes us with arms outspread upon the cross."
| L'anima, volta a quell'amor divino |
| C'aperse a prender noi 'n croce le braccia. |
He wished to consecrate all that remained of his life[{109}] to the task of building for his God the temple of temples, St. Peter's.
By a pontifical letter of Paul III, dated January 1, 1547, and renewed by Julius III in 1552 he had been appointed governor and architect of St. Peter's with full power to carry on the construction. He accepted this heavy task as a sacred duty, and refused to take any pay for it. In 1557 he wrote to his nephew Lionardo, "many people believe, as I do myself, that I have been placed at this post by God. I will not leave it because I am serving for the love of God and put all my hope in Him."[86]
He at once found himself in trouble with the party of San Gallo. They had always been his enemies and it must be acknowledged that he had done his best to deserve their hostility.