Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino - Florence, Italy
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 43° 46.516 E 011° 15.200
32T E 681341 N 4849380
Michelangelo's statue of Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino is found above the tomb of the Duke which is located in the New Sacristy of the Medici Chapel at Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, Florence, Italy. 43° 46.516 E 011° 15.200
Waymark Code: WM16NC4
Location: Toscana, Italy
Date Posted: 09/03/2022
Views: 2
The tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino is one of Michelangelo's most famous creations. The sculpted tomb was created in the New Sacristy of the Medici Chapel that was designed by Michelangelo. The tomb contains a marble sarcophagus and three figures sculpted in marble.
A above the sarcophagus is a marble sculpture of Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino. He is seated and wearing a Roman suit of armor with a helmet placed forward over his forehead. His head right hand is resting on his right thigh and his left hand is touching his left cheek. The sarcophagus is flanked by two of Michelangelo's most famous marble sculptures: the reclining nude male figure representing dusk on the left and the reclining nude female figure representing dawn.
A sign next to the tomb is inscribed:
TOMB OF LORENZO, DUKE OF URBINO
Michelangelo sculpted tomb of Duke of Urbino
(1492-1519) nephew of Leo X, during his last years in Florence
between 1531 and 1532. Dedicate of Machiavelli's The Prince,
Lorenzo is portrayed immersed in thought, and his pensive
temperament is in line with the allegories of time placed at
either side of the sarcophagus. Dawn seems to be waking from
the torpor of sleep, while Dusk, in abandon of painful
inertia, seems to be about to fall asleep
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Lorenzo was born in Florence on September 12, 1492. He was the a son of Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici and Alfonsina Orsini and the grandson and namesake of Lorenzo "The Magnificent" de' Medici. When his uncle, Giuliano de' Medici, handed over control of its government, in August 1513, he became the leader of the Republic of Florence. The position did not suit him well and in 1516 he had his uncle, Pope Leo X, make him Duke of Urbino at age 24.
As a general in the army of the Republic of Florence, he lead their troops during War of Urbino (1517) against the former Duke of Urbino, Francesco Maria I della Rovere. During the war he was wounded and retired to Tuscany. In September 1517, he regained Urbino by a treaty. In 1521, the Urbino reverted to the Della Rovere family.
The stamp was issued by Albania in 1975 as part of a set of 8 stamps and a souvenir sheet to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Michelabgelo.