Harford, John Scandrett: The life of Michael Angelo Buonarroti: with translations of many of his poems and letters : also memoirs of Savonarola, Raphael,, and Vittoria Colonna (Vol. 1) (London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, 1858)

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CHAPTER IX.
MICHAEL ANGELO, ON HIS RETURN FROM BOLOGNA, EXECUTES
Various works in sculpture. — his first visit to rome,
AND OCCASION OF IT. -EXECUTES HIS BACCHUS, AND THE
GROUP OF THE PIETA NOW IN ST. PETER'S.
1495-9.
WE will now proceed to describe the artistic pur-
suits and labours of Michael Angelo, after his return
from Bologna to Florence, at the troubled period
to which the last chapter has reference.
One of the first works which he undertook was a
small statue of St. John, for Lorenzo, son of Piero
Francesco de' Medici; and the next was a Cupid, of
the natural size, about which and its final fate there
are various and somewhat contradictory statements.
It was executed for a Milanese gentleman, of the
name of Balthasar. Vasari tells us, that such was
its grace and fine finish, that it was suggested to
the possessor that it would readily pass for an an-
tique, if a slight appearance of age were imparted
to its surface.
Balthasar, it is added, acted on the hint, and
then sent it to Rome, where it was sold as such to