# Tomb of Michelangelo: Allegory of Architecture

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/tomb-of-michelangelo-allegory-of-architecture-r5714d4903bf287>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [BANDINI, Giovanni](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea>)
- Date: 1551-1600
- Technique: Marble

## Commentary

Following the solemn funeral of Michelangelo held in the church of San Lorenzo on 14 July 1564, Vasari began his project for the structure of the &lt;a onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/v/vasari/1/22monume.html&#39;\)&#34; href=&#34;/html/v/vasari/1/22monume.html&#34;&gt;monument to Michelangelo.&lt;/a&gt; The elaborate allegorical decoration for the project was drawn up by Vincenzo Borghini and included contributions by Battista Lorenzi, who sculpted the &lt;a onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/l/lorenzi/battista/painting.html&#39;\)&#34; href=&#34;/html/l/lorenzi/battista/painting.html&#34;&gt;statue of Painting&lt;/a&gt; and the &lt;a onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/l/lorenzi/battista/michelan.html&#39;\)&#34; href=&#34;/html/l/lorenzi/battista/michelan.html&#34;&gt;bust of Michelangelo,&lt;/a&gt; and Valerio Cioli the &lt;a onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/c/cioli/sculptur.html&#39;\)&#34; href=&#34;/html/c/cioli/sculptur.html&#34;&gt;statue of Sculpture.&lt;/a&gt; The marble personification of Architecture was made by Giovanni Bandini. Giovanni Bandini \(known as Giovanni dell&#39;Opera\) achieved recognition early in his career. In 1563 he became a member of the newly established Accademia del Disegno in Florence and the following year was asked to create the personifications of Architecture and the Tiber for the catafalque of Michelangelo. Cosimo I was so impressed with these figures that he commissioned Bandini to execute the marble personification of Architecture for Michelangelo&#39;s tomb. The figure was completed by 1568 but was installed only in 1574. Its solemn grandeur seems to owe much to &lt;a onclick=&#34;return OpenOther\(&#39;/html/m/michelan/1sculptu/medici/1giulia2.html&#39;\)&#34; href=&#34;/html/m/michelan/1sculptu/medici/1giulia2.html&#34;&gt;Michelangelo&#39;s Giuliano de&#39; Medici&lt;/a&gt; \(New Sacristy, San Lorenzo, Florence\). The picture shows the lower part of Michelangelo&#39;s tomb with Painting \(left\), Sculpture \(centre\) and Architecture \(right\).

## Related artworks

- [Bacchus with Barrel](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bacchus-with-barrel-r2ba1bd7eb5dda4>)
- [Bust of Brunelleschi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-brunelleschi-r80097c2b8c174d>)
- [Bust of Christ](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-christ-r5404912d5ea7d0>)
- [Bust of Cosimo I de&#39; Medici](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-cosimo-i-de-medici-r32f9bb3425a057>)
- [Bust of Cosimo I de&#39; Medici](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-cosimo-i-de-medici-r5bea5dca5d559b>)
- [Bust of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-cosimo-i-grand-duke-of-tuscany-rafc5869debf263>)
- [Bust of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-cosimo-i-grand-duke-of-tuscany-rc1a6487ad4ae55>)
- [Bust of Francesco I de&#39; Medici](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-francesco-i-de-medici-r04be0cef84f8b7>)
- [Bust of Francesco I de&#39; Medici](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-francesco-i-de-medici-recbb979a414da5>)
- [Bust of Mary Magdalen](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/bust-of-mary-magdalen-r9e660215029412>)
- [Choir-screen \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/choir-screen-detail-raa6d1e5b3d0e3b>)
- [Choir-screen \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/bandini-giovanni-r41c699392806ea/choir-screen-detail-rf9bce918e2b14c>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)