Tomb of the Medicis
by MICHELANGELO

Medici Chapel (Cappella Medicea) is the chapel housing monuments to members of the Medici family in the New Sacristy of the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence. The funeral monuments were commissioned in 1520 by Pope Clement VII (formerly Cardinal Giulio de' Medici), executed by Michelangelo from 1520 to 1534, and completed by Michelangelo's pupils after his departure.

The two monumental groups (for the tombs of Lorenzo, duke di Urbino, and Giuliano, duke de Nemours) are each composed of a seated armed figure in a niche with an allegorical figure reclining on either side of the sarcophagus below. The seated figures, representing the two dukes, are not treated as portraits but as types. Lorenzo, whose face is shaded by a helmet, personifies the reflective man; Giuliano, holding the baton of an army commander, portrays the active man. At his feet, recline the figures of "Night" and "Day." "Night," a giantess, is twisting in uneasy slumber; "Day," a Herculean figure, looks wrathfully over his shoulder. Just as imposing but far less violent are the two companion figures reclining between sleep and waking on the sarcophagus of Lorenzo. The male figure is known as "Dusk," and the female figure as "Dawn."

Lorenzo the Magnificent and his brother Giuliano the Elder were buried at the entrance wall, and over them was set up a marble group consisting of a "Madonna and Child" and the Medici patron saints Cosmas and Damian. The "Madonna" is a work of imposing majesty, entirely by Michelangelo's own hand; the saints are the work of pupils after models by the master.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
View of the Medici Chapel
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1270*900
True Color
192 Kb



View of the Medici Chapel
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

968*687
True Color
88 Kb



View of the Medici Chapel
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1500*1045
True Color
230 Kb



Ceiling of the Medici Chapel
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1165*1165
True Color
130 Kb



Tomb of Giuliano de' Medici
1526-33
Marble, 630 x 420 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1023*1300
True Color
193 Kb



Tomb of Giuliano de' Medici
1526-33
Marble, 630 x 420 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

649*909
True Color
89 Kb



Giuliano de' Medici
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1285*2100
True Color
169 Kb



Giuliano de' Medici (detail)
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1114*1400
True Color
125 Kb



Giuliano de' Medici (detail)
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

515*950
True Color
106 Kb



Tomb of Giuliano de' Medici (detail)
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1018*800
Grayscale
125 Kb



Night
1526-33
Marble, length: 194 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

2100*1475
True Color
166 Kb



Night
1526-33
Marble, length: 194 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1300*840
True Color
138 Kb



Night (detail)
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1165*1165
True Color
106 Kb



Night (detail)
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

638*650
True Color
86 Kb



Day
1526-33
Marble, length: 185 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

2100*1529
True Color
185 Kb



Day
1526-33
Marble, length: 185 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1401*900
True Color
164 Kb



Day (rear view)
1526-33
Marble, length: 185 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1091*800
True Color
123 Kb



Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici
1524-31
Marble, 630 x 420 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1033*1300
True Color
207 Kb



Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici
1524-31
Marble, 630 x 420 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

687*909
True Color
96 Kb



Lorenzo de' Medici
1524-31
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

930*1700
True Color
206 Kb



Lorenzo de' Medici (detail)
1524-31
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1165*1165
True Color
97 Kb



Dusk
1524-31
Marble, length: 195 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1254*903
True Color
129 Kb



Dusk
1524-31
Marble, length: 195 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1077*1500
True Color
213 Kb



Dusk
1524-31
Marble, length: 195 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

2100*1576
True Color
227 Kb



Dawn
1524-31
Marble, length: 203 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

2100*1632
True Color
194 Kb



Dusk and Dawn
1524-31
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

1551*700
True Color
186 Kb



Dawn (detail)
1524-31
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

2326*1165
True Color
167 Kb



Medici Madonna
1521-31
Marble, height 226 cm
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

701*1562
True Color
157 Kb



Medici Madonna, between Sts Cosmas and Damian
1521-31
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

2100*1291
True Color
227 Kb



Medici Madonna (detail)
1521-31
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

590*864
True Color
104 Kb



Medici Madonna (detail)
1521-31
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

648*900
True Color
134 Kb



Candelabrum Pedestal
c. 1531
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

930*1700
True Color
201 Kb



Wall Decoration
1526-33
Marble
Sagrestia Nuova, San Lorenzo, Florence

803*276
True Color
60 Kb




Summary of works by Michelangelo
All genres
Sculptures | Paintings | Sistine Chapel | Drawings | Architecture
Sculptures
-1501 | 1502- | David | Julius II's Tomb | Medici Tomb | Pietŕs
Paintings
Easel paintings | Frescoes in Pauline Chapel
Sistine Chapel
Division of the ceiling | Genesis | Prophets | Sibyls | Ignudi
Spandrels | Lunettes | Triangles | Medallions
Last Judgment
Architecture
until 1530 | after 1530