CELLINI. 



Cellini, ving, under the tuition of Lauti/.io, the most celc- 

 "'V^*' brated in the art ; and he also engaged in cutting 

 dies, mcdalling, and enamelling, in all of which he 

 speedily attained grrut perfect ion. He was now em- 

 ployed by the dignitaries of the church, and some of 

 his works had been exhibited to Pope Clement VII., 

 who took him into his service. After cutting seals 

 for the cardinals, which it is to be observed were on 

 large metallic surfaces, not engravings on stone, he 

 struck a gold medal of the pope, which gained much 

 applause. The proportion of gold, however, exceed- 

 ing the current value of the coin, the whole were 

 melted down, and soon disappeared. Other coins and 

 medals, both in gold and silver, which he struck for 

 the same pope, are said to have rivalled, if they did 

 not actually surpass, the genuine productions of an- 

 tiquity. 



Cellini himself invariably testified a preference for 

 the manner of the ancients ; and some of his minor 

 works having excited disputes among the cognoscenti, 

 whether or not they were real antiques, the fact was 

 frequently referred to himself. 



During the course of a war wherein the pope was 

 involved, the successes of the French emboldened 

 them to march towards Rome. All the inhabitants 

 immediately took up arms; and Cellini, having raised 

 a company of men, led them to repulse the Duke of 

 Bourbon, who was scaling the walls of the city. The 

 duke fell on a discharge directed by Cellini ; and not- 

 withstanding the confusion occasioned by this event,, 

 the enemy entered Rome, and in the general retreat 

 which commenced towards the castle of St Angelo, 

 PopeClement VII. had scarcely time to leave the Va- 

 tican. Cellini now distinguished himself asan engineer ; 

 and he himself having pointed the gun, killed the Prince 

 of Orange while riding along the trenches. In presence 

 of the pope, also, he killed a Spanish colonel, who 

 had once been in the service of his holiness, on which 

 occasion he received absolution from homicide. The 

 pope being alarmed for falling into the power of the 

 besiegers, laid all his regalia, and an immense quantity 

 of jewels belonging to the apostolical chamber, before 

 Cellini, and commanded him to take out the latter, 

 and melt the gold. Accordingly, each precious stone 

 was wrapped in paper, and sewed in the pope's clothes ; 

 and a furnace being erected, 100 pounds of gold were 

 obtained from the regalia. An accommodation took 

 place without farther extremities ; and Cellini, ha- 

 ving returned to Florence, had an opportunity of ex- 

 ercising all his genius on a gold medal of Hercules tear- 

 ing asunder the jaws of the Nemean lion. Michael 

 Angelo on beholding it, declared his manner was al- 

 together new, and recommended him for the execu- 

 tion of another medal, in which he was equally suc- 

 cessful. This is described to have been a figure of 

 Atlas supporting the heavens, which were represent- 

 ed by a ball of crystal, while the zodiac was imi. 

 tated on a field of lapis lazuli. 



Soon afterwards Cellini returned to the service of 

 the pope, and was entrusted with the most valuable 

 works for which he had occasion : he was appointed 

 stamp-master to the mint, and also mace-bearer to 

 his holiness. Not satisfied with the extent of these 

 favours, he ventured to solicit another situation, which 

 the pope refused, saying, if he obtained what was so 

 considerable, he would think of nothing and neglect 

 his art. In this the pope was probably right, for 



Cellini was presumptuous and confident in hie ta- CiBM 



lents, which wire exercised only when he judged it *" 

 expedient. His temper was inflexible and capricious, 

 and led him into constant broils, fatal to others, and 

 nearly go to himself. He disregarded the punctuali- 

 ty of his engagements with the pope, and, refuting 

 to deliver up the costly materials on which he 

 was employed, he was deprived of his office in 

 the mint before he had long etijoycd it. Cellini 

 had already killed more than one person in sud- 

 den affrays, and the death of another being ap- 

 prehended, he fled for safety. The pope issued his 

 commands to seize and hang him wherever he could 

 be found. The wounded man however recovered, 

 and the artist, having contrived to make his peace 

 with the pontiff, continued executing medals, which 

 gained his highest favour and approbation. At this 

 time Pope Clement died ; and Cellini now killed an- 

 other man in an affray, yet the new pope, Paul III., 

 not only espoused his cause, but promised to reinstate 

 him in the mint. On intelligence being received that 

 Charles V. had made a successful expedition against 

 Tunis, he was ordered, among other things, to make 

 a cover for a prayer book, valued at 6000 gold 

 crowns. This he was entrusted with delivering in- 

 the pope's name to the emperor. Though gradu- 

 ally rising in confidence, and employed in the most 

 costly works, he lost the pope's favour, and with- 

 drew to France. 



Probably Cellini did not receive the patronage, on 

 this occasion, that he expected ; for after travelling 

 some time in the retinue of Francis I. he returned to 

 Rome. 



He had now to undergo a severe trial, and be- 

 came exposed to a situation of the most imminent 

 danger. He was suddenly seized in the streets, and 

 carried prisoner to the castle of St Angelo. The na- 

 ture of his offence was not concealed, and he was ac- 

 cused of being possessed of great wealth, partly ari- 

 sing from some of the jewels which, during the sack 

 of Rome, were removed from the papal regalia. Cel- 

 lini treated the accusation with the utmost contempt ;, 

 he recapitulated the circumstances which had occur- 

 red on that occasion, and maintained that there was a 

 list of the whole jewels taken 500 years preceding, 

 which was recorded in the apostolical chamber, where 

 they would still be found. He said that when Caesar 

 Iscatinaro came from the enemy to treat concerning 

 an accommodation with the pope, his holiness, to pro- 

 pitiate the negociation, dropped a ring, worth 4000 

 crowns, from his finger, and on Iscatinaro stoop- 

 ing to lift it, requested him to wear it for his sake, 

 which was a fact that would also probably be 

 found recorded. Although it does not appear that 

 there was any truth in the accusation, Cellini was 

 detained in confinement, and the pope, in answer to 

 the king of France's intercession for his enlargement, 

 called him a turbulent and troublesome man, whom 

 he had imprisoned for murder, and other atrocioiu 

 crimes. 



Cellini finding no prospect of liberation, determin- 

 ed to make his escape from the top of the lofty tower 

 in which he was kept. He effected his purpose with 

 much ingenuity and success, in descending from the 

 height ; but in making farther progress, he unfortu- 

 nately fell from a second rampart and broke his leg, 

 a dagger which bad been concealed in one of hjo 



