CELLUNI, BENVENU'TO, was born in Floreooe, in the year 1500. The narrative of his career we abridge from the very remarkable auto biography noticed at the end of the article. Ilia father was desirous that Benvenuto should be brought up to the profession of music, but he showed so decided a preference for the art of design that it was found impossible to keep him from his favourite pursuit, and he was eventually permitted to study sculpture : his first essays were made as a obaser and gold•worker. The elder Cellini however removed his son from the person with whom he was working, and made him apply closely to music till he was 15 years of age, when, without his father's consent, Benvenuto again established himself with a goldsmith called Mown°. In consequence of being engaged in an affray ho was banished from Florence, and retired for a time to Siena. He after wards went to Rome, where he met with great encouragement in his art. He returned however to his native city, and had every prospect of professional success, when, his ardent temper leading him into a quarrel, in which he severely wounded his antagonist, he found it necessary to disguise himself as a friar, and make his escape to Rome. It appears that he still cultivated music, for Pope Clement VII. was so well pleased at hearing him play at a concert that he took him into his service in the double capacity of artist and musician.
The talents of Benvenuto were not confined to the arts of design and music : he distiognished himself in arms, and, according to his own account, was equally able as an engineer. When the Constable Duke of Bourbon laid siege to Rome, Cellini acted as a soldier, and he says it was he who killed the duke as he attempted to scale the city walla. Ile also signalised himself in the defence of the castle of St. Angelo; and the Prince of Orange, Cellini declares, was killed by a ball from a cannon which he pointed. Soon after this he left Rome, and made his peace with the magistrates of Florence. He next pro ceeded to Mantua, aud through the interest of his friend Julio Romano, the painter, was noticed favourably by the duke; but some indiscretion obliged him hastily to quit Mantua, and he again returned to Florence, where he became intimate with Michel Angelo Buena rota. At the pope's invitation Benvenuto again went to Rome, where he met with great encouragement, and, among other distinctions, received the appointment of engraver to the mint. In consequence however of the ill-offices and calumny of one Pompeo of Milan, lie lost his place, and was even arrested for refusing to give up a work he was engaged upon. A curious instance of Cellini's weakness occurs at this time, in the fact of his devoting himself to necromancy in the hope of recovering his mistress, who had withdrawn to Naples. Having quarrelled with one Benedetto, whom lid wounded severely, and being denounced moreover as having killed one Tobla, of Milan, the pope issued orders to have him apprehended, and executed on the spot ; but he contrived to make his escape, and succeeded in reaching Naples, where, as the promises of the necromancer had assured him, he met his mistress Angelica. He was kindly received by the viceroy,
who wished to keep him in his service, but finding himself deceived by the fair Angelica, or her mother, Cellini quitted Naples, and, under Cardinal Ippolito de' Mediers protection, returned to Rome and obtained the pope's pardon. lu 1534 his great patron Popo Clement VII. died; but Benvenuto's well-known talents had now secured him many liberal and powerful friends. He says, in his life of himself, that on his return from St. Peter's where he wont to kiss the feet of the dead pontiff; he met Poulin°, who had falsely accused him of the death of Tobia of Milan, and that a quarrel ensued, which ended in his killing his adversary ; but he adds, exultingly, he was protected from any evil consequences by the interest of his patrons, the Cardinals Corner° and Medici ; and Paul III., the new pope; desiring to have him in his service, gave him his pardon, and also reinstated bins in his situation of engraver to the mint. About this time he unfortu nately excited the enmity of Pier' Luigi, the pope's natural son, who endeavoured to have him assassinated, but Cellini having intelligence of the design, made his escape to Florence, where the grand duke received him with every mark of kindness, and appointed him master of the mint. The pope however, anxious to have him in Rome, sent to invite him back, and Cellini again ventured to establish himself in that city; where be remained till he was recommended to try hie native air as the only means of recovering from a severe illness. He returned however to the pope's service, and was appointed to carry the presents which were made by his holiness to the Emperor Charles V., on his visiting Rome. Cellini some time after this resolved to visit France, and passing through Padua, visited Cardinal Bembo. On arriving in Franco be was most graciously received by Francis I., who offered to take him into his service, but being seized with illness he felt a dislike to the country, and returned to Rome by Ferrara, where he was honourably treated by the reigning duke. On arriving at Rome he was accused by his servant of having robbed the castle of St. Angelo, during the war, of immense treasures, which led to his arrest and imprisonment. He was much persecuted on this occasion by Pier' Luigi, the pope's sou, who influenced his father to continue' Benvenuto in prison ; a resolution in which the pope was confirmed from pique at the French king's intercession in his favour. At length, with great ingenuity, and after considerable difficulties, he effected his escape, and proceeded to his kind friend, Cardinal Corner°, who received and concealed him for some time ; but his eminence being afterwards induced to deliver him up to the pope, he was com mitted a second time to prison, where he was treated with the greatest severity. He acquaints us, that after be had been confined some time he had a vision, which assured him of his speedy liberation.