whole list of patronymics in use at Florence) is too long, those who cannot read it may leave it alone.”  These communications prove that, though he had come to be known as Buonarroti, he did not wish the family to drop their old surname of Simoni.  The reason was that he believed in their legendary descent from the Counts of Canossa through a Podesta of Florence, traditionally known as Simone da Canossa.  This opinion had been confirmed in 1520, as we have seen above, by a letter he received from the Conte Alessandro da Canossa, addressing him as “Honoured kinsman.”  In the correspondence with Lionardo, Michelangelo alludes to this act of recognition:  “You will find a letter from the Conte Alessandro da Canossa in the book of contracts.  He came to visit me at Rome, and treated me like a relative.  Take care of it.”  The dislike expressed by Michelangelo to be called sculptor, and addressed upon the same terms as other artists, arose from a keen sense of his nobility.  The feeling emerges frequently in his letters between 1540 and 1550.  I will give a specimen:  “As to the purchase of a house, I repeat that you ought to buy one of honourable condition, at 1500 or 2000 crowns; and it ought to be in our quarter (Santa Croce), if possible.  I say this, because an honourable mansion in the city does a family great credit.  It makes more impression than farms in the country; and we are truly burghers, who claim a very noble ancestry.  I always strove my utmost to resuscitate our house, but I had not brothers able to assist me.  Try then to do what I write you, and make Gismondo come back to live in Florence, so that I may not endure the shame of hearing it said here that I have a brother at Settignano who trudges after oxen.  One day, when I find the time, I will tell you all about our origin, and whence we sprang, and when we came to Florence.  Perhaps you know nothing about it; still we ought not to rob ourselves of what God gave us.”  The same feeling runs through the letters he wrote Lionardo about the choice of a wife.  One example will suffice:  “I believe that in Florence there are many noble and poor families with whom it would be a charity to form connections.  If there were no dower, there would also be no arrogance.  Pay no heed should people say you want to ennoble yourself, since it is notorious that we are ancient citizens of Florence, and as noble as any other house.”

Michelangelo, as we know now, was mistaken in accepting his supposed connection with the illustrious Counts of Canossa, whose castle played so conspicuous a part in the struggle between Hildebrand and the Empire, and who were imperially allied through the connections of the Countess Matilda.  Still he had tradition to support him, confirmed by the assurance of the head of the Canossa family.  Nobody could accuse him of being a snob or parvenu.  He lived like a poor man, indifferent to dress, establishment, and personal appearances.  Yet he prided himself upon