MICHELANGELO Buonarroti
(b. 1475, Caprese, d. 1564, Roma)

Dusk

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

The picture shows the figure of Dusk, a detail of the tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici.

In the spirit of an allegory of Time, the deceased were coupled with figures representing the times of the day whose gender was determined by Italian grammar. The thoughtful figures of Dusk and Dawn are endowed with soft outlines as they gracefully adorn the edge of the sarcophagus. Dusk lies, featureless, with unfinished feet, hands and head. The principal inspiration for these reclining figures came from the river gods of Antiquity.