Michelangelo greeted the Holy Father and his party outside the church, and at the first sight of him, Leo X couldn't help frowning, and Giulio was quite helpless - it is no wonder that the Holy Father preferred Raphael to others, compared to Raphael, who was always as well-dressed and well-dressed as possible, Michelangelo was not good-looking - he was thin, his shoulders were too broad, his head was bulging, his eyebrow bones were high, and his ears were like donkeys' unkempt hair, and at such an important time, he did not even groom his appearanceHe wore a leather jacket and leather pants from work, which were covered with paint, dirt and dust, and a strong stench emanating from the collar and cuffs.

Maybe he thinks that putting on such a gesture is more indicative of his hard work, but who here but Giulio would appreciate the heart of a painter?

Those who had to get close to him were suffocating.

The Sistine Chapel is the private chapel of the Pope of Rome and the place where the election ceremonies of the Pope (except Avignon) have been held, and its name comes from Pope Sixtus at the time of its construction, with a total length of one hundred and thirty-two feet, a width of forty-four feet, and a height of fifty-nine feet—in accordance with the proportions of the temple built by Solomon for God in the sixth chapter of the Book of Kings in the Bible—and Michelangelo was responsible for the frescoes on the dome of this temple, about fifty feet wide and one hundred and twenty meters long, For Michelangelo, who could not accept the help of his disciples and colleagues, this was a heavy but important matter. Although the Medici did not like Michelangelo's personality, they still created good working conditions for him out of duty and morality.

Of course, he did not have to do everything himself, and the cardinal's cronies were enough to act as Michelangelo's benefactors, and they prepared two servants for Michelangelo according to Michelangelo's needs and Giulio's orders, and they did not participate in the painting, but only prepared three meals a day for Michelangelo, reminded him to sleep and rest, and prepared for him a "bed" that could be attached to the scaffolding and a crystal piece on his eyes—so that he did not have to bend his head back and hurt his cervical spine when he painted. You don't have to worry about the paint dripping into your eyes.

Michelangelo's personal character may not be so good, but his enthusiasm and responsibility for his work, as well as his outstanding talent and sensitivity, are unquestionable, just as he did at Caesar. Borgia was often distraught by the secrets he was carrying and Borgia's brutality, but he created "The Virgin" (marble statue), "Moses's People" (tempera on wood, which records the outcasts on Emilia's Boulevard), The Battle of the Centaurs (marble reliefs depicting soldiers in battle), and "Caesar", which was named after Caesar. The series of Borgia brass statues and tempera paintings on wood panels, among others, continue to amaze and amaze countless people, and these portraits and statues played a great role in the subsequent actions that stirred up the masses and stirred up discontent, precisely because the art of excellence often aroused the greatest empathy.

The linen used to cover the frescoes of the dome has been removed, the scaffolding has been removed, and the first thing that catches people's eyes is the incomparably brilliant and harmonious colors - Michelangelo painted the entire fresco group with the theme of Genesis, the frescoes are divided into the center and the left and right sides, and there are nine grand pictures in the center, namely "God divides light and darkness", "Creation of the sun, moon, grass and trees", "God divides land and water", "Creation of Adam", "Creation of Eve", "Original Sin - Expulsion from the Garden of Eden", "Noah's Sacrifice", "The Great Flood", " Noah Drunk. They are surrounded by ornamental embellishments dominated by naked men, with secondary images of prophets and priestesses.

The group of people who had the privilege of following the Pope, first stunned by the magnificence of the picture, then bewildered by the vivid light and shadow, and then attracted by the naked and athletic bodies, tilted their heads and squirmed slowly from one end of the church to the other, the whole process was silent, even the sound of breathing became slow and long, and they went straight to the wall, and finally stopped, and after a long time finally got rid of this magnificent scene.

Michelangelo bowed his head when the people looked up, making a respectful and humble appearance, but when they were finally able to bow their heads, he raised his head arrogantly, of course he could be proud, even Raphael, who had always been-for-tat with him, and Bramante, who competed with him for the position of chief designer of St. Peter's Basilica and finally surpassed him for the position, they looked at Michelangelo in the eyes as if they were simply saying, why did God bestow such a talent on such a frivolous and vulgar personWhat about the arrogant hooligans?

There were many people who thought this way, including Pope Leo X, because Michelangelo, after losing his bid for the post of chief designer of St. Peter's Basilica, was irritated and reluctant to accept any work related to it, especially painting, because he considered himself a brilliant sculptor, like the sages of ancient Greece or Rome. Medici's warning was that he might have fled.

Leo X, of course, would not like such a presumptuous man, and before today, he could not even understand why Giulio. The Medici insisted on putting Michelangelo in the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica, yes, he had seen Michelangelo's work, was it outstanding? Of course, but he didn't think that Michelangelo was irreplaceable, no, today he realized that Michelangelo was indeed irreplaceable.

"How many people are there?" The Pope muttered.

"Three hundred and forty-three." Michelangelo said with his neck crossed, as respectful as he could, but with a hint of smugness in his tone.

Giulio stops before "creating Adam", a composition that has never been imagined before, when Adam's body has been completely created, but his eyes are blank, his limbs are weak, and he has no soul, and his creator is surrounded by angels, and a finger is stretched out to him, pouring spiritual light into his body—a moment that Michelangelo captures accurately, as if he were near, witnessing it with his own eyes.

He gazed at this majestic and sacred picture for a long time, and then finally lowered his eyes: "You have done a good job," he said to Michelangelo so gently for the first time, "worthy of praise and praise." ”

Michelangelo was visibly agitated at once, of course, no one knew better than him (and even if he didn't know, Leonardo da Vinci made it clear to him) that Leo X's peace was equally applied to the soul and body, but Giulio. The Medici, who may have been gentle and forgiving, but the unforgiving reality had sharpened him into a sharp sword, which he would hide in its sheaths against friends and lovers, but he would have no mercy on his enemies and traitors—and he had a good memory that no one else could match.

At this time, a satisfied Leo X walked over with a smile, "Where did you draw us?" ”

After being amazed and excited, he began to pay attention to his position, as I said before, people at this time rarely had independent portraits, and many times, they asked the painter to paint himself as a certain figure in a religious painting, as many people criticized, many of the bishop's lovers became virgins, in this case, the Pope and the cardinal in power must have a place in such a sacred picture.

Michelangelo looked cautiously at the Holy Father, then at Cardinal Medici beside him, hesitated for a moment before plucking up the courage to say, "Why don't you go and look for yourself?" I swear, it will be a surprise. ”

Leo X did not care about his boldness, he carefully looked up his head for a long time, and only then did he find the prophet Joel in the secondary picture on one side, which others may not be so visible, but he found his big hooked nose at once, and as inspiration, he paid attention to the picture of the prophet and the priestess, and after a few minutes, he found the prophet Isaiah, who was facing everyone on his side, his short hair curled but silvery-white, and at the same time his eyes were closed—Leo X looked at it strangely for a long time, It was found that the figure was the most neatly dressed, showing only the face, hands and feet, but to say that he was more like his father than Giulio, Lorenzo. The Medici, because of the coarse contours of his face, is the closest to Giulio to say the figure...... Does that Arithri Priestess count? In particular, Leo X had seen Giulio when he was a teenager, and he was indeed as beautiful as a maiden at that time...... Michelangelo should also remember that he was in the middle of his time with Caesar. Borgia in Florence.

Leo X looked at Michelangelo, and Michelangelo stared unwaveringly at the prophet Isaiah, yes, it was Isaiah who he modeled himself on the venerable cardinal, and not some living priestess.

Julio. For the first time, the Medici did not notice the eyebrows of Leo X and Michelangelo, and he was quite satisfied with Isaiah, first, he was neatly dressed; second, the look of solemnity (for some reason, Michelangelo painted many figures with wide-eyed, almost bulging eyes); Third, he doesn't look so much like him, and he has no interest in the limelight – perhaps for hundreds or thousands of years.

"If there is a similar job in the future," he said kindly to Michelangelo, "don't use me as a model, you know, I don't like this." ”

Michelangelo bowed deeply—he narrowly escaped, but it is conceivable that in the future he would probably do whatever he pleased, and perhaps the gifted men had one or another strange temper, a vitriolic temperament, a peculiar fetish, and Michelangelo's favorite thing was to jump on the edge of anger and delight the dignitaries, even more than his love of sculpture or painting—and now he wondered with pleasure that he could be able to do so with the Holy Father and Giulio. How many extra rewards the Medici get here, especially Giulio, who is sometimes more generous than Leo X, as long as he thinks you deserve it.

"How long will it take to finish here?" Julio asked again.

"Give me another thirty days," said Michelangelo, with his head held high, "I will make it even more perfect, Your Highness," he looked around and gave Raphael, who looked unpredictable at the end of the queue, and his worst enemy, Bramante, a mocking smile, he was indeed a bastard, yes, but Raphael was not angry, he was also conquered by Michelangelo's skill, compared to the layman, as a painter, he could deeply understand every line and every color here, How precisely and perfectly each shadow appears on this magnificent and sacred canvas.

He took a deep breath imperceptibly, remembering the four frescoes in the Pope's Signature Chamber, and it seemed that he had to make more changes and improvements.

And while the people were lingering, an uninteresting fellow came in a hurry, and Leo X, not so happily, allowed him to come to him, listened to the news he brought, and then told the people with great regret that he and Giulio. The Medici had to leave first.

"Spaniards?" After boarding the carriage, Giulio asked.

"Yes, a messenger sent by the Spaniards." Leo X said: "They say that the original commander, Gonzalo. Morality. Córdoba was wounded while quelling another Moorish rebellion and could not come, so they sent Raymond. Morality. Cardona. ”

Ramon. Morality. Cardona was a middle-aged man of his forties, with a black beard, not tall enough, but strong enough, and stood there like a black rock, calm and reliable. But his name was not as well known as Gonzalo in Spain or Italy, and Leo X certainly preferred to believe in his brother's best friend in relation to Gonzalo's relationship with Giulio, but this time - Raymond the Spaniard bowed deeply to the Holy Father, then prostrated himself before the Holy See, went to kiss the feet of the Holy Father, and then he bowed to the cardinal beside the Holy Father and kissed the horns of his robe.

"Gonzalo mentioned you." Giulio said mildly: "I believe in him, and I believe in your queen Juana I, but I beg your pardon for the original agreement, the queen chose Gonzalo. Morality. Cordoba. ”

Ramon. Morality. Cardona would not be displeased, after all, as the cardinal had said, their agreement was to have General Gonzalo as the commander of the coalition forces, and without warning he had changed the people, and let him say that it was also a bit of a problem, "The venerable Duke of Tranova is more than willing to serve you," he said with some sincere regret, "but just before he set out, there were several rebellions with the Moors, and he fell from his horse and broke his left leg while quelling the last rebellion. ”

"Oops!" Leo X said, "That's enough, he's not young." ”

"Isn't it, Duke, he's nearly sixty years old." "So he has to entrust to me, His Excellency, His Excellency, and to the Cardinals, who, though I dare not say to be on a par with the venerable General Córdoba, have also gone through many wars, with the Moors, with the Ottoman Turks, with the Genoese, with the Portuguese...... Although I have not achieved any brilliant results, I have not suffered heavy defeats, and I can hear angels whispering in my ears every night on my way here, which must be some kind of revelation, Holy Father, who has destined me to work for the Church and to achieve victory for you. ”

Leo X and Giulio looked at each other, and although it was a little unpleasant for them to have to deal with a completely unfamiliar stranger in the face of the great war, what could they do? You can't force Gonzalo with a broken leg. Morality. Córdoba came to Rome, and even if he could, how could he only have an army?

"In that case," Leo X, "may God bless us, sir, it seems that we must plan a little," he sighed, "but before that," he smiled, "you should return to our lodgings for you, and rest for the night, for a great welcome feast awaits you to-morrow." ”

"It's an honor." Cardona said. He also looked a little relieved, and it was clear that it was a good thing for him not to have to jump into the war right away.

"I'm a little worried." After his departure, Leo X said: "He does not look as good as Gonzalo." ”

"It's okay, if it really doesn't work, I will appear on the battlefield as your envoy." Giulio said.

"It's going to be a terrible battle." Leo X said: "Louis XII has lost his way out, and if he is defeated, or even captured, he needs the ministers and the people to redeem him, as Charles VIII did, and all the advantages and powers that the French royal family has gained over the nobles, I mean Burgundy, Aquitaine, Brittany, and Provence and Flanders, will be lost." "I don't want you to go there, especially since you're going to take this place when you lose the battle......," he said worriedly. Raymond, become the commander of the Church Alliance, instead of obediently staying in a safe place, just like the envoys before me, I can't watch your accident, Julio, I've lost a brother, I can't lose you again, you know, for the Medici, your presence is even bigger than mine. ”

"Don't say that." Giulio stood up, walked over to Leo X's side, and patted the back of the father's hand comfortingly, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to move an inch, and hesitate in every way—aren't you the one who has been pampering me?" If it weren't for you, the plan I proposed would have been taken as the babble of a madman, who would have believed it, my brother, millions of golden florins have flowed from your hands to my hands, and people say, you are a proud man, only I know that you are a noble man, and your golden florin has become the new pedestal of the Church, the schools, the priests, the students......"

"I don't care what people think of me," said Leo X, "and you're the one who really does it, and I'm just giving some support that I can." ”

"Very strong support." Giulio looked Leo X in the eye and said, Leo X took his hand and smiled reassuringly: "Alright, alright." He said, "That's all for the clumsy compliments, I wouldn't advise you to go to the battlefield anyway." ”

"I will be cautious," said Giulio, "you also know that the Holy Roman Empire has made it clear that they will not send their army, we only have the Spaniards, the ecclesiastical army, the Italian mercenaries." ”

"But we have hundreds of guns and countless muskets."

"That's all I have to do now," said Giulio, "and I have to be prepared so that nothing goes wrong." ”

"Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire was a shameless bastard," Leo X said angrily, "but did Gonzalo of Spain really break his leg?" ”

"It should be," said Giulio, "that Juana I was not so stupid as to abandon his precious soldiers in Italy, which may have been an accident, but it was just a misfortune." He pondered for a while: "By the way, and the English, how many troops is Henry VIII willing to give us?" ”

"A thousand," said Leo X, "is too little." But it is said that the king was planning to come to Rome to secure a bishop for one of his court priests, and if he could give us some more soldiers, I think, perhaps. ”

"Then we will wait for His Majesty." Giulio said, then returned to his chair and gently pressed the corner of his forehead, all kinds of affairs were complicated, but they were all very important, even he couldn't help but feel tired.

"You say," said Leo X, who asked softly after a while, "will the question of the Holy Roman Empire arise in that Martin. On Rudd? ”

"Martin. Lud did not yet have that which could directly affect the emperor," said Giulio, "but he at least represented the attitude of the Elector of Saxony." ”

"How ridiculous," said Leo X, "the kings and archdukes, who complained about the sins of the Church, saw that it had a chance to get out of the mire, and they were eager to kick it back." ”

Otherwise, how would they convince the believers? In terms of orthodoxy, even the patriarch of Istanbul cannot be compared with His Excellency the Pope of the Church of Rome, let alone a strange mortal? The archdukes and kings, of course, did not want to see a church that was willing to change and renew, and the secular rulers had been competing with the holy church for the people, and they could have said that the church was degenerate and dirty, and that the bishops and clergy were not credible, but if the church was ...... Are you willing to make concessions and changes? Their situation will become very awkward, because they can't say, we don't care what your faith is, we just need you to take out the golden florin in your pocket—yes, not for the church, but for us! ”

"So, what are you going to do, I mean, those schools ......"

"There may be some hindrance, but we are always dealing with the people, not the nobles – but, Your Excellency, we should also react accordingly."

"Tell me."

"I have here a statistic," said Giulio, "that the income of indulgences has tripled when you repealed the Seven Great Decrees, and that a year ago it had fallen slowly, and now it is almost the same as in previous years, and, you behold, that the proportion of large indulgences, that is, for felons, has reached sixty percent." ”

Leo X nodded: "I remember you told me that you are gradually eliminating the influence of indulgences on ordinary people. So, some small sins, people no longer use indulgences to atone? ”

"If it is not feasible for Julius II to directly ban the sale of indulgences, as we have all seen, it has caused panic and complaints, and in fact we must rejoice that the anger of the people has erupted very early, because if it has dragged on for a long time, His Excellency the Pope, people may have another thought: that is, whether the indulgences are really useful? That's more terrible than anything else, because it means that people's faith will be shaken and what the church says will be constantly questioned. ”

"How terrible." Leo X muttered.

"That would be a disaster." "But now, we can almost avoid it – the monks and priests, the students and the teachers of the Monks of Mercy have gone everywhere like dandelions, and their results are as you can see, and the people have understood that the small sins can be atonemented by Mass, confession, prayer, and good deeds, and not just ...... Indulgences – Your Excellency, we are slowly recovering the purchase and sale of indulgences. ”

"Great." Leo X said: "Although it is a good income, I always feel uneasy. ”

"Because that is one of the most direct conflicts between the church and the secular rulers." "While the final war is inevitable, it can at least give us a little respite," Giulio said. ”

。 m.