Kraft Hotel Florence · Michelangelo and the facade of San Lorenzo

Sequence of the Projections: 1. Michelangelo presents his plans for the faade of San Lorenzo in 1516 2. - 7. The studies by Michelangelo: the sequence of the sketches 8. The virtual model of the faade 9. Main character: The Elettrice Palatina 10. Sponsors of the event           « click on the numbers to see details of the sequence 1. Picture showing Michelangelo who presents his project for the faade for San Lorenzo to Pope Leo X and to Cardinal Giulio de'Medici. The painting can be found in Casa Buonarroti and bears the date 1619. 2. Sketch of a first idea for the faade of San Lorenzo which can be found with all the other sketches by Michelangelo at Casa Buonarroti in Via Ghibellina 3. Sketch of the final plans for the faade of San Lorenzo. Sketch later used by Michelangelo for the realisation of the basilica of St. Peters. Going to Rome Michelangelo told the Florentines, "I am going to Rome to make their dome bigger, but indeed not more beautiful". 4. The four columns, of which three might have been resold in 1998 in a marble storage area near Pietrasanta. These were of exceptional size; over 7.5 metres high and were completely sculpted by hand. 5. The columns should have reached 8.5 metres from base to top, a size which was double the normal size of columns found in palaces or in the naves of churches 6. The window jams and frontispiece of the three doors, made from marble chosen by Michelangelo, came from a mountain called Altissimo near Pietrasanta, blessed with beautiful marble and proximity to the port. 7. Minor and major frontispiece and frames of the main door. 8. Virtual reproduction of the entire plans by Michelangelo. The cost of the project was to be 35.0000 ducati full of gold, equivalent to Euro 20 million. 9. Portrait of Anna Maria Luisa de'Medici, Elettrice Palatina, benefactor of the city of Florence. 10. Sponsors which made the virtual realisation of Michelangelo's designs possible.

Anna Maria Luisa de Medici (1667 - 1743) was also known as Elettrice Palatina, which she gained after her wedding with Elettore Palatino, Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz-Neuburg.
She was the daughter of Grand Duke Cosimo III and Margurite - Louise of Orlans and after the death of her brother Gian Gastone, the last male of the Medici family, she had the hard task of bringing the Granduchy in line with the foreign government of Lorena.
Anna Maria Luisa de'Medici, last heir to the noble caste, left to the city of Florence her immense artistic heritage. The properties thus became the inalienable property of the city. The artistic heritage was destined as an ornament of the state, of use to the public and for the curiosity of foreigners.
Furthermore she left considerable funds for the realisation of works which she considered of particular importance, such as the realisation of a facade for San Lorenzo with plans drawn up by Michelangelo but which had not been realised. It was also an objective that Michelangelo himself held dear as can be seen by his letter to Domenico Buoninsegni of 2 May 1517 in which he said: "a me basta l'animo far questa opera della facciata di San Lorenzo che sia di architettura e di scultura lo specchio di tutta Italia" (for me I only need the soul for this work on the facade of San Lorenzo whose architecture and sculpture would reflect all of Italy).

Michelangelo wanted to develop a new "World School" which would be adorned by columns. Of these it seems that one is under the sacristy of the church, as written by Vasari in the book on the life of Michelangelo, while three, which by size and proportions appear to those desired by Michelangelo, are today under the Teseco company building.
One of these columns was brought to Florence and placed on the right of the church of San Lorenzo (virtual tour above) to allow one to see the enormous size of the pillar.