The tomb, surmounted by a bust of Michelangelo (by Battista Lorenzi) is decorated by statues of Architecture (by Giovanni dell'Opera), Sculpture (by Valerio Cioli) of Painting (by Battista Lorenzi) and frescoes by G. B. Naldini.
Michelangelo Buonarroti (March 6, 1475 - February 18, 1564) died in Rome on 18 February 1564, at the age of almost 89 years. On 20 February 1564, Michelangelo's body is laid in the church of Santi Apostoli in Rome.
Lionardo, the nephew, is organizing the transport of the body in Florence, but fearing that this can be impeded, he hides the body of Michelangelo in a roll of clothes and load it on a cart with other merchandise, the artist's body arrives in Florence 3 weeks later, on 10 March 1564.
The body is deposited in the company of the Assunta, behind San Pier Maggiore and two days after it is transported to Santa Croce, at night, by the artists of the Academy, in the midst of a huge crowd by torchlight.
On 14 July 1564, after several postponements, took place in the church of San Lorenzo, Michelangelo's funeral, after the ceremony, the body of the great artist was finally placed in his tomb in Santa Croce, where it still rests. |
