The Palace and Park by Phillips, Forbes, Latham, Owen, Scharf, and Shenton

[Born 1498. Died near Borgo-Forte, in Italy, 1526. Aged 28.] A descendant of Cosmo, “the father of his country,” and the son of the celebrated Catharine Sforza. Passionately fond of arms, he was employed, in 1521, by the Florentines against the Duke of Urbino. In 1524, he entered the service of France, and a year or two afterwards died of a wound. He was ferocious, and mercilessly cruel. After his death his soldiers, who had profited by his instruction and example, styled themselves “The Black Bands”--“Bandineri.” The chief of the butchers is distinguished in history by the unenviable title. [A very finely-formed head, from the figure in the Piazza San Lorenzo, Florence.]