Cinquecento Sculpture: Renaissance Art and Michelangelo

Cinquecento Sculpture: General Features

Cinquecento sculpture sought grandeur and found inspiration in classical works. The direct contemplation of the artistic capital of Rome helped the new style's configuration. The discovery of the Hellenistic Laocoon group in 1506, along with many pieces of Greek and Roman sculpture esteemed by nobles and high priests, led to their allocation in the Vatican collections. The study focused on the naked human form with greater rigor.

Transition from the Quattrocento

In the Quattrocento, an idealized vision highlighting the heroic and the giant did not always suit religious themes. Key sculptors of this transition included:

• Andrea Sansovino: Performed works on religious and burial subjects.
• Jacopo Tatti (Sansovino): Carved significant works in marble and bronze.

Michelangelo Buonarroti: The Master of Sculpture

Michelangelo's production summarized all the progress of the Quattrocento and anticipated aspects of Mannerist and Baroque sculpture. His perfect knowledge of anatomy allowed him to represent intricate details of the human body, such as muscles and veins. His works contain a potential motion that would reach its zenith in the Baroque era.

Early Works and Influences

In his early sculptures, the influence of Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia is evident in the grandiosity and anatomical focus, as seen in the Virgin of the Stairs and the Battle of the Centaurs. Upon his first arrival in Rome, he sculpted the Vatican Pietà with exquisite perfection; the theme emphasizes an ideal beauty with less pathos than the Gothic period, though the spiritual pain remains evident. In Florence, he sculpted the David, which increased the sense of grandeur and detailed anatomical study.

The Roman Period and Later Works

In Rome, the tomb of Pope Julius II—originally intended for the dome of St. Peter's—was reduced to a wall tomb in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli. It features the figures of Rachel, Leah, and Moses, whose facial expression captures Michelangelo's terribilità. The tension of the human nude is also evident in the Slaves, now housed in the Louvre and the Florence Academy.

Between 1520 and 1534, he created the Medici Chapel in San Lorenzo, Florence. He carved niches into the wall to accommodate the seated statues of Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici, accompanied by the allegorical figures of Dusk, Dawn, Day, and Night. These figures exhibit distinct Mannerist features. His final stage focused on religious themes reflecting a spiritual crisis, such as the Rondanini Pietà, which highlights his non finito technique.

Other Notable Sculptors

• Benvenuto Cellini: Author of the Perseus.
• Giambologna (John of Bologna): Author of Mercury and various equestrian statues, such as the monument to Philip III in the Plaza Mayor, Madrid.