Sketching a plaster face. The story of Zeuli in Greek mythology.

"Giuliano Medici" (also known as "Little Guardian") by Michelangelo

Michelangelo completed the Medici Chapel at the age of 59 There are two groups of statues: one is the statue of Giuliano Medici, and the other is the "Day" and "Night" placed under the statue of Giuliano Medici. Lorenzo Medici (the representative of the Medici family) and Giuliano Medici both had the title of papal commander during their lifetimes, so Michelangelo shaped them into military generals when composing the picture. On the statue of Giuliano, Michelangelo is made to hold a sword and wear armor, cleverly expressing his appearance of resoluteness but inner emptiness.

Let’s first talk about the statues “Day”, “Night”, “Morning” and “Dusk” in the Medici Chapel.

These four statues were placed in front of the tombs of Lorenzo Medici and Giuliano Medici. These statues seem to be alive, showing us the meaning they express.

"Morning" is a naked female name. It seems that the rising sun has just hit her. She opened her hazy eyes while half asleep, and her left hand was raised as if to block the dazzling sunlight. , but stopped on the shoulder in hesitation.

"Ye" is also a female surname. He supported his head with his right hand as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.

Both "Day" and "Dusk" are male.

"Day" shows a man's strong body. It seems that the sun is too bright, causing him to turn his back.

"Twilight" is an elderly man. It is not because of his old age that he has any physical defects. The way he looks around and the movement of his right hand on his knees indicate the ephemerality and fleetingness of the twilight.

The remaining two male statues are Lorenzo Medici and Giuliano Medici. When these two statues were being made, people accused Michelangelo of not carving them realistically to the owners of the statues. Michelangelo arrogantly replied to them: "In a thousand years, no one will want to know what the owners of the statues really looked like. "Haha, why bother a thousand years? Now I don't want to know what these two Medicis really look like! The statue bears their names, granting them immortality.

----Attachment: Medici family

A famous family in Florence, Italy. The most important representatives are Cosimo Medici and Lorenzo Medici.

The ancestors of this family were originally farmers in Tuscany, and later became rich by operating industry and commerce. In the 13th century, he became a noble and participated in the Florentine government. In 1378, Salvestro of this family was elected president of the Florence Municipal Council, but after the collapse of the elected government in 1381, he was expelled from Florence. Giovanni Medici restored prosperity to the Medici family, his bank made huge profits, and he became the richest man in Florence. His eldest son, Cosimo Medici, took over the papal finances on behalf of the Medici Bank. In 1433, due to the failure of the war against Lucca, Cosimo was sentenced to 10 years of exile, but was recalled by the new Council of Elders the following year. He relied on popular support to expel the Albizzi family. In 1434, Cosimo established a tyrant in Florence and became the uncrowned lord of Florence. In 1469, during the reign of Cosimo's grandson Lorenzo, Pope Sixtus planned to murder his brother Giuliano during Easter Mass in the cathedral. Lorenzo gained popular support in an extremely critical situation, foiled the papal conspiracy, forced King Ferdinand I of Naples to surrender, and safeguarded Florence's status. After that, Lorenzo established his own royal body, the Council of Seventy, to replace the old Hundred. To bring real stability to the government. In 1494, France invaded Florence, and Piero, who succeeded Lorenzo, was expelled. In 1512, Piero's son Lorenzo relied on the support of the Spanish army to resume his rule in Florence. The family was expelled again in 1527, but returned to Florence three years later under the protection of the Holy Roman Empire's troops. In 1532 Florence became a duchy. In 1567, Cosimo of the family was awarded the title of Grand Duke, and two years later the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was established as Cosimo I.

Florence became the capital of the principality, and France and the country existed in name only. The Medici family's rule in Florence lasted until 1737, after which it was ruled by Francis of Lorraine.

The Medici family encouraged culture and collected a large number of books and manuscripts, which were hidden in a villa called Plato's Academy and open to the public. To famous artists such as Michelangelo. With their help and encouragement, Florence became the birthplace and center of the European Renaissance, with outstanding achievements in poetry, painting, sculpture, architecture, and music. The study of history, philosophy, and political theory also ranked among the forefront of Italian states.

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