CompuServe Messages

I am telling you that the trial and error in an "inspired" work is of a completely different nature than the trial and error in ditchdigging or programming. Do you suppose a sculptor working in marble is able to take back a stroke? Do you imagine Michaelangelo did fifteen thousand studies of David, and then carved the best of the lot? Do you imagine Michaelangelo did fifteen thousand study sculptures in a methodical approach, varying each one from its predecessor by tiny amounts, until he happened upon one that looked like it would be appropriate to name it David?