The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Novel of Michelangelo

Michelangelo is growing older. His “years of grace” (457), in which he can carve stone in peace, are near an end. In 1506, he finds himself in an acrimonious relationship with Pope Julius II. By this time, Bramante has positioned himself as the Pope’s favored architect, even though Sangallo is the official architect of the Vatican. He has convinced Julius to renovate St. Peter’s Basilica, a huge project. The consequence is that all Michelangelo’s plans for Julius’s tomb are placed on indefinite hold. Michelangelo has already bought the marble for the tomb, but Julius refuses to pay him any more money until he can produce a finished statue, a process that will require a great deal of time. Michelangelo owes rent on the house where he is living. Sangallo is confident of winning the commission to renovate St. Peter’s Basilica, believing that Bramante does not know how churches are built.

Michelangelo is forced to borrow money from Balducci just to unload the marbles. They are left on the dock, covered in dirt that stains the marble. Michelangelo needs more money to set up his studio and to begin carving, but Sangallo tells him that the Pope is spending all his money on St.