for the members of his family and for the few whom he honored with his
friendship. One of the latter was Vittoria Colonna, a woman of strong
and beautiful character, who brought much brightness into his life.

Our portrait shows him somewhat past middle life when occupied with
many important concerns. We can read in the face something of the
character of the man. It is certainly not a handsome face, for any
good looks he might once have boasted were destroyed by his broken
nose. It is nevertheless a face full of rugged strength, with not a
little kindliness in the expression. Here is a man whose enmity we
should avoid, but whose friendship we should value above rubies.

It is the face of a lonely man. Michelangelo had to suffer the
loneliness of genius. No one could fully understand him. He stood
apart, towering like a giant above his fellow men.

On the four hundredth anniversary of Michelangelo's birthday, some
verses were written by an American poet, Christopher Cranch, which one
should read while looking at this portrait:--

"This is the rugged face
Of him who won a place
Above all kings and lords;
Whose various skill and power
Left Italy a dower
No numbers can compute, no tongue translate in words.

"Patient to train and school
His genius to the rule
Art's sternest laws required;