Michelangelo Uncovered in Florence Exhibit
All photos by Francesco Fonfoni. Photo courtesy of the Bargello Museums, Florence.
Starting from November 15, the “Secret Room of Michelangelo” in Florence will be open to the public. This captivating exhibition sheds light on the once-hidden room and artistic creations of the renowned Michelangelo.
Measuring a mere ten meters in length and three meters in width, the room is covered with charcoal drawings by the artist. Allegedly, Michelangelo sought refuge in this space for at least two months in 1530, evading persecution and execution by Pope Clement VII and the Medici. The tumultuous relationship between the Medici family, the pope, and the artist ranged from patronage to death sentences and back to patronage. Now, the walls of this room stand as a testament to the time Michelangelo spent here, utilizing them as his personal canvas.
All photos by Francesco Fonfoni. Photo courtesy of the Bargello Museums, Florence.
This room is situated within the Basilica di San Lorenzo, a structure designed by Michelangelo himself. In fact, the mausoleum directly above the room bears his design. Initially serving as a charcoal deposit and storage room until the 1950s, the space remained sealed and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1975. Accessible only through a narrow stairway behind a trap door, concealed beneath a pile of unused furnishings, the room was initially uncovered when the museum planned to repurpose the corridor as a new entry/exit point. Sealed beneath two layers of plaster, restorers managed to uncover monumental studies of anatomical forms, figures, and poses. Paola D’Agostino, the director of the Bargello Museums, suggests that Michelangelo used the walls as a sketchbook due to uncertainty about his fate: “He drew things from the past as if he was taking a trip down memory lane … it was like having an album of his works.”
All photos by Francesco Fonfoni. Photo courtesy of the Bargello Museums, Florence.
However, scholars debate the attribution of all sketches to Michelangelo. Some resemble his prior works, such as a painting of Leda and the Swan from the same year or the sculpture of David, while others may be considered studies for future works, like the limbs of statues found in the New Sacristy. The authenticity of some sketches remains uncertain, prompting the need for further examinations and studies.
Previously accessible only to art scholars, the room is now open to the public until March 30, 2024. Due to its limited size, visits are available by appointment, allowing small groups to explore for 15-minute intervals.
