"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the job of the sculptor to discover it." Michaelangelo Buonarotti
Moses - Church of St. Peter in Vincoli
The statue of Moses at the basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli was to
have been part of a grandiose monument and tomb for Pope Julius II, a patron of
Michelangelo Buonarotti. But this same pope pulled Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512), a project that lasted four years. Not surprisingly, the scaled down version of the tomb was not completed until 1515. At eight feet in height, Moses is an all powerful figure, his
muscles bulging from his arms and legs and transparent through the folds of his
gown. He has a crown of horns symbolizing the “ray of light”, a misinterpretation
of the Hebrew word karan which may
also refer to horn depending on how it is read.
Pieta
The Pieta in the Basilica of St. Peter's was once the object of a madman who hammered away at Mary's nose, arm, hand and eyelid. This was in 1972 and it was painstakingly restored to its current state. Today the Pieta is behind a bullet proof acrylic glass panel for its own protection.
Michelangelo created the
Pieta between 1498-1499 for a French cardinal, Jean de Billeheres, who
commissioned it for his own tomb. It is carved from Carrara
Christ Bearing the Cross
Inside the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva Florence and was later left with one of his apprentices to finish when he moved to Rome
This statue seems pale in comparison to the figures of Moses and the Pieta. Perhaps the intrusion of other hands to finish this piece and having to cover up the damage done by Urbano may have altogether altered the work started by Michelangelo.
Michelangelo (1475-1564) was a true Renaissance man. He was not only a sculptor, he was an exceptionally gifted painter. He painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the Last Judgement on the altar of said chapel. He also designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and the uniform of the Swiss Guards is attributed to him as well. And to cap his many talents, he wrote poetry.
Despite his impressive body of work, Michelangelo had this to say about his oeuvres: “If you knew how much work went into it, you wouldn't call it genius.”
MosesMichelangelo (1475-1564) was a true Renaissance man. He was not only a sculptor, he was an exceptionally gifted painter. He painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the Last Judgement on the altar of said chapel. He also designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and the uniform of the Swiss Guards is attributed to him as well. And to cap his many talents, he wrote poetry.
Despite his impressive body of work, Michelangelo had this to say about his oeuvres: “If you knew how much work went into it, you wouldn't call it genius.”
St. Peter in Chains
Piazza San Pietro in Vincoli, 4/a
Metro: Colosseo or Cavour
free admission
Pieta
St. Peter's Basilica (see also the dome designed by Michelangelo)
Vatican
free admission
Christ Bearing the Cross
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Piazza Minerva
(near the Pantheon)
free admission
* * *
Images by Charie