The ideas of Michelangelo that dominate the public imagination are of a dedicated, tireless, genius who went above and beyond for his art. While these things are all, of course, true, it paints the image of a rather serious figure. There is, however, one piece of evidence in the world that suggests he might not have been the one-dimensional character that he is often portrayed as but, rather, a more complex and enigmatic figure. This religious, hard-working and diligent man was also a street artist. In Florence, in the historic Palazzo Vecchio, a simple caricature known as the L’importuno di Michelangelo, or Michelangelo's Graffiti, remains as a clue of this other Michelangelo. It is also one extra highlight to add to your itinerary once you've found a luxury villa in Florence and are headed on a holiday there.
This mysterious piece of street art is located on the corner of the Palazzo Vecchio, on the side near the Uffizi Gallery, carved into the wall a few metres up the wall, just behind the sculpture, “Ercole e Caco" by Baccio Bandinelli. The rendering of the figure is simple but rather evocative – merely the outline of a man's face. If you were passing by without knowing what it was, you could easily miss it entirely or pass it off as the work of a common-place vandal rather than the work of one of history's most famous artists. No one knows what it was that exactly made Michelangelo create the work or the full story behind it but, as with such things, there are several theories and origin stories which have emerged over the years.
One story tells us that Michelangelo carved the face on a dare and even went so far as to show off by etching it in the stone with his back turned. In another version of the origin story we are told that Michelangelo, who always in a hurry to get back to work on his sculpture, was continuously stopped by a notoriously boring acquaintance when crossing the square who talked on and on with Michelangelo. He is said to have decided to pass the time by sketching the man in question, executing the work while leaning against the wall and looking him in the eyes with his hands behind his back and engraving a profile of the man with hammer and chisel. This story seems bizarre, however, as it would be unlikely that even the most annoying “importuno”, or pest, would have to be rather self-obsessed to not notice such a thing. In yet another version of the story, Michelangelo witnessed an execution in the square and the face is that of the man on death row.
Not matter who the man was or why Michelangelo decided to create the work, it still remains an interesting feature to spot while you wander the historic streets of Florence and an unusual work of art to ponder over.
One story tells us that Michelangelo carved the face on a dare and even went so far as to show off by etching it in the stone with his back turned. In another version of the origin story we are told that Michelangelo, who always in a hurry to get back to work on his sculpture, was continuously stopped by a notoriously boring acquaintance when crossing the square who talked on and on with Michelangelo. He is said to have decided to pass the time by sketching the man in question, executing the work while leaning against the wall and looking him in the eyes with his hands behind his back and engraving a profile of the man with hammer and chisel. This story seems bizarre, however, as it would be unlikely that even the most annoying “importuno”, or pest, would have to be rather self-obsessed to not notice such a thing. In yet another version of the story, Michelangelo witnessed an execution in the square and the face is that of the man on death row.
Not matter who the man was or why Michelangelo decided to create the work, it still remains an interesting feature to spot while you wander the historic streets of Florence and an unusual work of art to ponder over.
