Historical story

Michelangelo Buonarroti and Lorenzo the Magnificent:an Anecdote

The very young Michelangelo sculpted the head of a faun

How did Michelangelo know each other and Lorenzo the Magnificent ?

A anecdote has been circulating about this for centuries.

It is said that the great patron was strolling through the green of the gardens of San Marco when, deeply impressed, he stopped to admire a magnificent faun's head sculpted by the artist, who was just a teenager at the time.

He liked the work very much, but he found that the teeth were too perfect, and therefore unsuitable, for an old mythological creature like the faun.

Lorenzo pointed this out to the boy and continued on his way.

However, the skilled budding sculptor wasted no time and with the chisel chipped the teeth of his creature.

When the Magnificent passed in front of the statue, he was so impressed by the child's skill and readiness that he decided to let him enter his service.

Thus it was that Michelangelo made his entrance to Palazzo Medici.

The episode is told in the Lives by Giorgio Vasari.

Click here: https://www.arte2000.it/blog/testa-fauno-marmo-lorenzo-de-medici-sinnamora-della-genialita-michelangelo/).