Capella Medicee
The Capella Medicee
consists of Michelangelo‘s 16th century ‘New Sacristy’ and the 17th
century ‘Chapel of Princes’. They are later additions to the original church of
San Lorenzo that was erected in the 15th century at the hands of
Brunelleschi.
The New Sacristy is
dedicated to St. Mary and she is thusly depicted opposite the altar. Michelangelo’s depiction of a
breastfeeding Mary is highly unusual. The room also has a further two
functions, one being where a priest would get ready and the other a tomb space.
This triple function is emphasised in the three separate parts of the walls in
the room.
Michelangelo has
evidently incorporated Romanesque ideas into the design. Most notably he is
influenced by Brunelleschi with the dome and colour scheme of white and grey. However, although he
has drawn influences from elsewhere, they are not without his own twist. The
dome, for example, is hanging on pendentives (see picture) instead of the
octagonal ‘umbrella’ shape that was employed by Brunelleschi.
The chapel also has a
Coffered ceiling, clearly inspiration taken from Rome and the Pantheon. This is
probably no mistake, as the Medici held themselves in high esteem whilst also
having ties with the Papacy in Rome. However, the New Sacristy has been left
unfinished and is not what Michelangelo had envisioned.
The Chapel of the Princes
is located opposite the main nave of San Lorenzo (hence importance) and has the
Old Sacristy to the left and the New Sacristy to the right. Each tomb of each
prince has a niche above in which a bust in situated with very idealised
features. It is octagonal in shape which not only conveys the belief in
resurrection but in this case also alludes to the sense of the eternal power of
the Medici’s.
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