Michelangelo's Atlas

Michelangelo

• Born March 6, 1475 in Tuscany
• Lived in Florence most of his life
• Famous painter, sculptor, architect
• Known for painting the frescoes at the Sistine Chapel
• Also known for sculpting the Pieta and the David

The Context behind Atlas

• Commisioned by Pope Julius II for his tomb in 1510s
• The Atlas is innovative for its lack of completion- The statue trapped in the stone is both visually stimulating and reprrsents the struggle humans must endure against their material "chains" or bindings

Physical Features

• Height: 277 cm
• Made of Marble
• Statue is unfinished, possibly intentionally so
• Statue is carrying a huge weight over its shoulders
• Head is trapped in the marble

The Location of Atlas

• Originally meant for Pope Julius II tomb, but its first location is never mentioned
• Later came to Grotto of Buontalenti in the year 1591
• Today, The Atlas is in the Academia Gallery, or Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence

Trivia

• The Atlas is actually only one of four similar unfinished statues, each depicting a certain level of completeness, the Awakening Slave, the Young Slave, the Bearded Slave, and The Atlas itself.
• Two additional statues, the Rebellious Slave and Dying Slave, are finished, and remain in France.
• The Atlas is named after the titan of the same name, who held the entire world upon his shoulders.

Sources

• http://www.accademia.org/explore-museum/artworks/michelangelos-prisoners-slaves/
• http://www.michelangelo.net/atlas-slave/
• http://www.people.vcu.edu/~djbromle/artviewsnet/portrait04/paul/slavesbymichelangelo.htm
• https://www.michelangelo.org/