battling with fierce passions, and becoming victor over them by working
them up into art. The mold of the man was masculine, and the subdued
sorrow that flavors his whole career never degenerates into sickly
sentimentality or repining.

The sonnets of Michelangelo, recently given to the world, were written
when he was nearly seventy years old. Several of the sonnets are directly
addressed to Vittoria Colonna, and no doubt she inspired the whole
volume. A writer of the time has mentioned his accidentally finding
Michelangelo and Vittoria Colonna seated side by side in the dim twilight
of a deserted church, "talking soft and low." Deserted churches have ever
been favorite trysting-places for lovers; and one is glad for this little
glimpse of quiet and peace in the tossing, troubled life-journey of this
tireless man. In fact, the few years of warm friendship with Vittoria
Colonna is a charmed and temperate space, without which the struggle and
unrest would be so ceaseless as to be appalling. Sweet, gentle and
helpful was their mutual friendship. At this period of Michelangelo's
life we know that the vehemence of his emotions subsided, and tranquility
and peace were his for the rest of his life, such as he had never known
before.

The woman who stepped out of high society and won the love of this stern
yet gentle old man must have been of a mental and spiritual quality to
command our highest praise. The world loves Vittoria Colonna because she
loved Michelangelo, and led him away from strife and rivalry and toil.




REMBRANDT