During the final decade of his life, Michelangelo began only one new marble sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà. He continued to make drawings for himself and for others, and he began a number of new architectural initiatives, including designs for San Giovanni dei Fiorentini, Porta Pia, Santa Maria degli Angeli, and the Sforza Chapel in Santa Maria Maggiore. He remained devoted to St. Peter's, he poured his heart and faith into poetry, and he fretted about his nephew. Despite the depressing loss of so many friends and patrons, Michelangelo enjoyed relations with Rome's elite, the esteem of nearly everyone in Italy and abroad, and the companionship of many, including old friends such as Tommaso de' Cavalieri and several new friends such as Tiberio Calcagni, Daniele da Volterra, and Sebastiano (Bastiano) Malenotti.

MICHELANGELO's ASSISTANT: BASTIANO MALENOTTI

In his waning years, Michelangelo balanced the requirements of old age against the demands of his numerous architectural projects. Patience and prayer were remedies for the former; for the latter he enjoyed a string of able and loyal collaborators who helped carry forward his manifold projects. No project was bigger or more important than St. Peter's, and few assistants more valuable than Sebastiano Malenotti.

Malenotti was an overseer much like those employed by Michelangelo many years previously at San Lorenzo – skilled and versatile craftsmen who managed men and materials, and capably supervised the day-to-day work.