Chap. XIII. FRA BARTOLOMMEO DELLA PORTA. 435 We look almost vainly into the darkness of history to ascertain whether Leonardo might not have been person ally instrumental in directing the yearning diligence of Baccio. Historians generally have assumed that da Vinci entered the service of the Duke of Milan in 1483; and that he revisited Florence in 1500 only. But many pas sages in Vasari are opposed to that assumption, leading us on the contrary to believe that Leonardo and Baccio might have been in contact with each other in that inter val. After the second exile of the Medici, in 1494, Sa vonarola projected a new form of government for the re public, advocating a council of one thousand citizens, from which the supreme magistrates were to be elected by lot. No hall in Florence at the time was capable of containing so many. Savonarola therefore consulted Leo nardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Gkdiano da S. Gallo, Baccio d’Agnolo, and Cronaca, as to the means of build ing one; and those artists agreed to a plan which was placed in Cronaca’s hands for execution about the middle of July 1495. 1 We cannot, therefore, exclude the proba bility of an acquaintance between della Porta and da Vinci in that year. Both were unaware that their ser vices would be required later for the decoration of the new saloon; that the first would be asked to furnish an altarpiece which he should begin and leave unfinished; that the second would be inquired to paint its walls, and should only draw the cartoon. But for Savonarola, we should perhaps enjoy more of Della Porta’s earlier studies. The friar had said that nudities were indecent; and many of his adherents cast the contents of their portfolios into the fire during the carnivals of 1497 and 1498. But the first to obey this injunction, was Baccio. 2 He had become a personal friend of Savonarola; and when the fatal day arrived in which the convent of S. Marco was stormed (May 23. 1498), he 'Vasari, lives of Cronaca, of I Vols. VII. 31, VIII. 123, and IX. 224. Leonardo, and Bacci* d’Agnolo. | 2 Vas. VII. 153. 28*