My first selection is Michelangelo’s Tomb of Giuliano de Medici, located in the New Sacristy of San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. This piece is a marble sculpture that was created between 1520 and 1534. It is a funerary monument that Lorenzo de Medici commissioned to honor the memory of his brother. The tomb comprises two figures, Giuliano de Medici and his brother Lorenzo, depicted in a reclining pose. The figures are carved in marble and are highly detailed, with realistic and lifelike quality. Various symbols and motifs surround the figures, including a laurel wreath, a lion, and a dove.
The subject matter of the tomb is a tribute to the Medici family and their legacy. The figures represent the two brothers in death, and the symbols and motifs represent their virtues and accomplishments. The figures are also meant to represent the idealized human form, and the tomb is meant to celebrate the Medici family’s legacy.
The style of the sculpture is typical of Michelangelo’s earlier works. He combines classical and Renaissance elements, creating a harmonious balance. The sculpture has a strong sense of movement, with the figure of Giuliano appearing to be in a state of repose. The drapery of his clothing is also rendered realistically, with the folds of the fabric moving with the figure.
The Tomb of Giuliano de’ Medici represents an earlier artistic style, combining classical and Renaissance elements. Michelangelo’s use of realistic drapery and attention to detail is characteristic of his earlier works. The sculpture also reflects the religious and spiritual themes common in Renaissance art. The figure of Giuliano is depicted in a peaceful and contemplative state, suggesting a spiritual connection to the afterlife. This reflects the Renaissance belief in the afterlife’s importance and the soul’s journey. The work is highly detailed and realistic, celebrating the Medici family’s legacy. The work is a testament to the skill and talent of Michelangelo, and it is a reminder of the power and influence of the Medici family.
The Facade of Santa Maria Novella is a Renaissance building designed by the architect Leon Battista Alberti in 1458-1470. It is a public building intended to be seen by the public and to serve as a religious building. The facade comprises a series of arches, pilasters, and niches and is decorated with classical motifs. The Tomb of Giuliano de Medici, on the other hand, is a Mannerist sculpture created by Michelangelo in 1520-1534 as a funerary monument. It is a private work of art intended to be seen only by those who visit the New Sacristy of San Lorenzo in Florence. The tomb comprises two figures, Giuliano and Lorenzo de Medici, and is decorated with various classical motifs.
The painterly style of Leon Battista Alberti’s Facade of Santa Maria Novella in Florence is characterized by classical motifs, such as columns, arches, and niches. The facade is decorated with various classical motifs, such as acanthus leaves, scrolls, and garlands. The facade is also decorated with various figurative sculptures, such as saints and angels. The painterly style of Michelangelo’s Tomb of Giuliano de’ Medici in the New Sacristy of San Lorenzo in Florence is characterized by the use of more complex, dynamic compositions and more exaggerated and distorted forms. The tomb has various classical motifs, such as garlands, scrolls, and figures. The figures are depicted more exaggeratedly and dynamically than those on the facade of the Santa Maria Novella. The figures are also depicted more dynamically and expressively, with greater attention paid to the details of their facial expressions and body language.
The two works of art represent the Mannerism and Reformation movements differently. Leon Battista Alberti’s facade of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy, exemplifies Mannerism with its intricate and ornate design, use of classical elements, and focus on beauty and harmony. Michelangelo’s Tomb of Giuliano de Medici, located in the New Sacristy of San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy, is an example of the Reformation, with its more restrained and sober design, its focus on religious themes, and its use of naturalistic elements. Both works of art demonstrate the influence of the Mannerist and Reformation movements on the art of the time but in different ways.
References
Campbell, E. J. (2020). Giuliano de’Medici: Machiavelli’s Prince in Life and Art https://www.jstor.org/stable/26919998
Pelosi, G., & Selleri, S. (2021, November). Florence and a Leap in Cryptography: The Leon Battista Alberti Cypher Disk. In 2021 7th IEEE History of Electrotechnology Conference (HISTELCON) (pp. 7-11). IEEE https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9787316/
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