I miei Prigioni non sono sempre stati nella Galleria dell’Accademia dove li vedete oggi. Fino al 1924 si trovavano nella coreografica prima stanza della Grotta del Buontalenti.
I Prigioni, che mai avevano lasciato il mio stanzone di via Mozza a Firenze, furono ereditati dal mi’ nipote Lionardo il quale decise di donarli a Francesco I de’ Medici. Qualche anno più tardi, nel 1583, Francesco I volle far realizzare dall’abile Bernardo Buontalenti una meravigliosa grotta all’interno del Giardino di Boboli e pensò bene di ubicare lì quelle sculture che pare vogliano liberarsi dal marmo che le trattiene.
Se andate a Firenze non perdete l’occasione di perdere l’orientamento nella Grotta. Rimarrete affascinati da un insieme perfettamente equilibrato ma piuttosto insolito di architettura, pittura e scultura. Già vedendola dall’esterno si intuisce la sua singolarità. Subito si notano le concrezioni spugnose e le stalagmiti che pendono nell’arcata sopra le due colonne poste all’ingresso. Le due sculture che invitano lo spettatore ad entrare, Cerere e Apollo, furono scolpite dal Bandinelli.
Nella prima stanza potrete vedere le copie dei miei quattro Prigioni incastonate fra gli stucchi e le concrezioni. Le stalattiti e le spugne sulle pareti sembra quasi che acquistino vita trasformandosi in figure ben riconoscibili dalle forme sia umane che animali. Fu Pietro Mati, noto per i suoi stucchi, a realizzare queste singolari figure.
Book a Michelangelo tour and receive 5% off with Promo Code MB05ABThe Prisoners in the Buontalenti Cave
My Prisoners have not always been in the Academy of Finr Arts, where they are today. Until 1924 they were in the first room of the choreographed the Cave of Buontalenti.
My Prisoners, who had never left my large room via Mozza in Florence, were inherited by my nephew Leonardo who decided to donate them to Francesco I de’ Medici. A few years later, in 1583, Francis I wanted Bernardo Buontalenti to create an artificial artistric cave in the Boboli Gardens and thought it was a good idea to put the sculptures that seem to want to break free from the marble in there.
If you should go to Florence don’t miss the chance to experience the uniqueness of the Cave. You will be fascinated by a perfectly balanced and rather unusual architecture, painting and sculpture. Looking at it from the exterior you can already guess that it’ll be a unique experience. You’ll immediately notice the concrete “spongy” creations and stalagmites hanging above each of the 2 arches above the two columns at the entrance. The two sculptures that invite the viewer to enter, Ceres and Apollo, were carved by Bandinelli.
In the first room you’ll see copies of my four Prisoners set in the stucco. The stalactites and sponges on the walls looks like thay are coming to life becoming figures with both human and animal qualities. It was Pietro Mati, known for his stucco work to make these figures. Unfortunately one can no longer enjoy the water effects features that were ongoing for centuries. A dense network of canals made of terracotta created a non stop drip effect from the ceiling looking like artificial rain. As the rain fell it created an array of colors & reflections that was able to shock anyone who looked at it. The icing on the cake was the fish tank located in the middle of the ceiling.
Then why were my Prisoners replaced by copies? Well, that Cave was not the best place in order to preserve them. In 1882 they were moved to the hallway that leads to the David.
Truly yours, Michelangelo Buonarroti and my stories
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