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carolyn hammett | all galleries >> Galleries >> florence_april_2015 > IMG_4397 Michelangelo "Night and Day" in New Sacristy of San Lorenzo.jpg
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02-MAY-2015

IMG_4397 Michelangelo "Night and Day" in New Sacristy of San Lorenzo.jpg

The two figures in this image are on the tomb of Guiliano di Medici, nephew of Cardinal Giulio di Medici
An idealized contemplative seated portrait of the nephew isplaced above the two major figures of Night and Day.

Night is a fully developed female with tired drooping muscles, used up, wasted and worn out.
Below her arm is the mask of false dreams. The owl below her leg is the symbol of night.

Day is a heavily muscled male figure, with an older body form.
Night and Day brought Guiliano to his death, but in death, he conquered both night and day..

As in the tomb for Lorenzo just opposite across the room, these figures are willfully distorted,,
and seem to be sliding off the top of the sarcophagus.
It is thought that perhaps Michelangelo had some figure or structure in mind as a support under the feet,
but this was never realized, and the awkward and contorded Mannerist poses are self sufficient for the symbolic nature of the tombs.

Canon EOS Rebel SL1
1/60s f/5.0 at 19.0mm iso1600 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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