TOMB OF JULIUS II

View Description

small (250x250 max)

medium (500x500 max)

large ( > 500x500)

Full Resolution

This item is restricted to only allow viewing of the metadata.

Description

Rating
Title	TOMB OF JULIUS II
View	View looking up, from the observer's left, depicting both the lower and upper tiers (the upper tier statues were not carved by Michelangelo. Sandro Fancelli, called Scherano, was paid in 1537 for work on the Madonna and Child)
Notes	funerary, religious
Work Type	tomb sculpture
Style/Period	Renaissance
Creator Name	Michelangelo Buonarroti
Creator Nationality	Italian
School of Creator	Renaissance
Date.Creator Birth	1475
Date.Creator Death	1564
Contributors to Project	Sandro Fancelli, Raffaello da Montelupo, Tommaso di Pietro Boscoli, Jacopo del Duca
Major Design Aspects	symbolic forms and elements monumental
Elements & Spatial Types	scroll Tablets of the Law Ten Commandments Moses horns gaitered breeches
Climate Type	Mediterranean
Country	Italy
City	Rome
State/Province	Lazio
Alternate Place Names	San Pietro in Vincoli
Art Medium	marble
Structural System	bearing masonry
Dates	1505-1545
Century	16C
Photographer	Scott Gilchrist, Archivision
Date Photographed	4/30/1993
Subject Information	Although the tomb as it exists today is a pale imitation of Michelangelo's first conception of the grand funerary monument immortalizing Julius II's life, the powerful sculpture of Moses remains one of the artist's greatest works. Spanning forty years the tomb represents Michelangelo's artistic and spiritual evolution from a young and enthusiastic artist of 30 years of age to a deeply introspective and spiritual man in his last years. Julius II commissioned the work in 1505, two years after becoming Pope, and precise plans for the monument were in place by the end of 1505. By April 1506 the Pope had lost interest in the tomb. It was not until after Julius II died on 21 February 1513 and his executors contracted for a new type of tomb - no longer a free-standing monument destined for St. Peters but one to be attached to a wall in whatever church would have it - that Michelangelo returned to it. Eventually the tomb was placed in San Pietro in Vincoli since this is the church in which Julius II had been a cardinal for 32 years before becoming Pope. During this second period of work (1513-16) Moses and the Louvre Slaves were carved. The Moses exhibits the strength and breadth of execution which evolved from Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling (1508-1512). Pulled away from the tomb by Pope Leo X in 1516 Michelangelo only returned to it in 1542 when a new contract was signed by Julius' executors stipulating that he carve only three of the original six statues. The Contemplative Life (Rachel, left of Moses) and The Active Life (Leah, right of Moses) were carved during this final attempt to complete the Tomb of Julius II. The earlier outward beauty is not as important to the aging artist as is the depiction of spirituality which is noticeable in these works. While the Tomb of Julius II was a constant frustration to Michelangelo over the forty year time period he has left for posterity the impressive, powerful and vibrant sculpture of Moses, a masterpiece of the Renaissance. research by Marlene Jacques, BA (in Art History), for Archivision
Credit Line	Archivision Inc. (all images copyright Scott Gilchrist / Archivision.com)
Collection Title	Archivision (architecture, urban design, gardens, landscapes and public art)
Collection information	Collection administered by the Visual Resources manager, Architecture Library, (402) 472-1193

Find results with:

Searching collections:

Home TOMB OF JULIUS II

TOMB OF JULIUS II

Description

Tags

Comments