Importuno di Michelangelo
{{short description|Artwork attributed to Michelangelo}}
{{Italic title}}
{{infobox artwork
|image_file=Piazza della signoria angolo via della ninna, palazzo vecchio, cantonata con testa scolpita 02.jpg
|image_upright=1
|caption=Profile of a man
|title=Importuno di Michelangelo
|artist=Attributed to Michelangelo
|city=Florence
|museum=Palazzo Vecchio
}}
The Importuno di Michelangelo ("The Nuisance by Michelangelo") is the profile of a man's head carved on the façade of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, recently attributed to the artist Michelangelo Buonarroti by Adriano Marinazzo. This new hypothesis has been published in the Italian art magazine Art e Dossier.{{Cite journal |last=Marinazzo |first=Adriano |date=2020 |title=Una nuova possible attribuzione a Michelangelo. Il Volto Misterioso |url=http://www.artedossier.it/it/rivista/numero/379/ |journal=Art e Dossier |volume=379| pages=76–81| issn=0394-0179}}
History
The reason for this profile is unknown. An old popular legend{{Cite web|last=ALESSANDRI|first=NORMA|date=14 December 2015|title=Il ritratto nascosto di Michelangelo sulla facciata di Palazzo Vecchio|url=https://www.lanazione.it/firenze/cronaca/il-ritratto-nascosto-di-michelangelo-sulla-facciata-di-palazzo-vecchio-1.1573992|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-03|website=La Nazione|language=it}} links it to the artist Michelangelo.{{Cite web|title=The Legend Behind Michelangelo's Graffiti|url=https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/legend-behind-michelangelos-graffiti|access-date=2021-01-03|website=ITALY Magazine|language=en}} He allegedly sculpted it to ridicule someone he found bothersome (hence Importuno di Michelangelo, "The Nuisance by Michelangelo").{{Cite news|last=Crow|first=Kelly|date=2020-11-13|title=Was Michelangelo a Renaissance Banksy?|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/was-michelangelo-a-renaissance-banksy-11605280000|access-date=2021-01-02|issn=0099-9660}}
The new hypothesis
The new hypothesis on Michelangelo's possible involvement in the creation of the profile of Palazzo Vecchio is based on the strong resemblance of the latter to a profile drawn by Michelangelo in the early 16th century now at the Louvre. The profile was probably sculpted with the permission of the city authorities. The façade of Palazzo Vecchio was constantly guarded. Therefore its author enjoyed a certain consideration and freedom of action.
The sculpted profile style is consistent with that of the head profiles drawn by Michelangelo in the early years of the 16th century. Consequently, the portrait of Palazzo Vecchio should also be dated to the beginning of the 16th century; its execution would coincide with the placement in 1504 of Michelangelo's David to the left of the Palazzo Vecchio's entrance.
Reception
The new hypothesis received immediate attention from scholars and the international media. The Wall Street Journal reported this news on the front page "The attribution of a new Michelangelo would be significant, particularly one hiding in plain sight."{{Cite news |last=Crow |first=Kelly |date=13 November 2020 |title=Was Michelangelo a Renaissance Banksy? |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/was-michelangelo-a-renaissance-banksy-11605280000 |access-date=2021-01-02 |issn=0099-9660}} Further articles were published by Le Figaro,{{Cite web|title=Avant Banksy et Invader, Michel-Ange pionnier du street art dans les rues de Florence|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/avant-banksy-et-invader-michel-ange-pionnier-du-street-art-dans-les-rues-de-florence-20201122|access-date=2021-01-02|website=LEFIGARO|language=fr}} The Telegraph,{{Cite news|last=Squires|first=Nick|date=2020-11-23|title=Mysterious Florence graffiti was carved by Michelangelo, historian claims|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/23/mysterious-florence-graffiti-carved-michelangelo-historian-claims/|access-date=2021-01-02|issn=0307-1235}} Die Presse,{{Cite web|last=Gaulhofer|first=26 11 2020 um 06:47 von Karl|date=2020-11-26|title=War Michelangelo ein Pionier der Street Art?|url=https://www.diepresse.com/5902997/war-michelangelo-ein-pionier-der-street-art|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Die Presse|language=de}} Smithsonian Magazine,{{Cite web|last=Davis-Marks|first=Isis|title=Did Michelangelo Carve a Graffiti Portrait Into This Florentine Facade?|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-says-michelangelo-may-have-made-carving-palazzo-vecchio-180976310/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Smithsonian Magazine|language=en}} Artnet News,{{Cite web|date=2020-11-13|title=Tourists Pass This Enigmatic Portrait in Florence Every Day. Now a Scholar Says It Was Probably Carved by Michelangelo Himself|url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/wall-carving-florence-michelangelo-1923502|access-date=2021-01-02|website=artnet News|language=en-US}} and others.{{Cite web|last=Keener|first=Katherine|date=2020-11-16|title=Curator’s discover sheds new light on "Michelangelo’s Graffiti" at the Palazzo Vecchio|url=https://www.art-critique.com/en/2020/11/research-could-link-michelangelo-to-palazzo-vecchio-graffiti/|access-date=2021-01-31|website=Art Critique|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-17|title=Michel-Ange est-il l'auteur d'un portrait gravé sur le Palazzo Vecchio à Florence ?|url=https://www.connaissancedesarts.com/arts-expositions/renaissance/michel-ange-est-il-lauteur-dun-portrait-grave-sur-le-palazzo-vecchio-a-florence-11148900/|access-date=2021-01-31|website=Connaissance des Arts|language=fr}}
See also
References
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External links
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Category:Tourist attractions in Florence