Michelangelo: sculptor in bronze : the Rothschild bronzes

Abstract

Michelangelo (1475-1564) is one of the most important and influential artists in the history of art. Documented as a sculptor who worked in a variety of media, his production in bronze has, until recently, proved elusive. However, in 2015 an international team of experts proposed that a pair of stunning male nude figures astride ferocious felines, known as the Rothschild bronzes, should be ascribed to Michelangelo and dated to the early 1500s. These enigmatic and visually-striking bronze masterpieces are the focal point of this multi-authored, interdisciplinary volume, which seeks to reassess Michelangelo's work in bronze and contextualise it within the rest of his output. It contains ground-breaking contributions by leading international experts in the field of art history, anatomy, conservation science and bronze-casting.