A mysterious face carved into Palazzo Vecchio has long been linked to Michelangelo. Now, a newly discovered sketch could turn this Renaissance legend into reality.
In September 2019, I wrote about a bit of “graffiti” which is carved into the front of Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio. Through the ages, the small carving had been attributed to Michelangelo, but has never been any real evidence. No one knew for sure whether the great artist had created it, or why.
But apparently, not long after my visit (and article), a researcher working in France found a possible link. I’m not sure how I missed that piece of news at the time, but it has only just come to my attention.
A Discovery That Could Turn Legend into Reality
Adriano Marinazzo, curator at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary, was doing some research in the Louvre and came across a sketch by Michelangelo that bears a striking resemblance to the carving in the piazza.
He was looking through some of Michelangelo’s papers, when he noticed a drawing of a man in profile. He was immediately struck by the resemblance. But rather than say anything, he passed the sheet to his wife and asked her if it looked familiar. And she said, “It looks like the profile on the Palazzo Vecchio!”
If that wasn’t exciting enough, a note near the image reads, “Who would ever say it is by my hand?” Marinazzo believes this might be a subtle reference to the carving on Palazzo Vecchio.
He also suggests that Michelangelo may have carved the profile in 1504, while he was in Florence to oversee the installation of his statue of David outside the city hall. And this is the same time frame the sketch is believed to have been made.
Who Is This Mystery Man?
Unfortunately, the papers offer no clues as to the identity of the man in profile.
In my previous article, I shared some of the more popular theories about who the man might be:
- Some say he was someone who talked too much and annoyed Michelangelo.
- Because this piazza was a place of public hangings, others suggest he may have been a condemned man on the way to the gallows.
- Another theory claims it was a bet – to see if he could get away with defacing a public building.
- And many insist that he carved it with his hand behind his back.
Another Artist?
However, Marinazzo puts forth another theory for this mystery man’s identity. He thinks it could be Francesco Granacci– an artist well known among Michelangelo and his artist friends.
Artist and biographer Giorgio Vasari later created a portrait of Granacci. While not in profile, it does have some comparable facial features.
Still No Proof
As intriguing as Marinazzo’s theory is, some scholars are unconvinced. There is still no definitive proof that the new sketch is linked to the carving or that the carving is linked to Michelangelo.
One major point of doubt is that Vasari, who was a contemporary of Michelangelo and a biographer of all the great renaissance artists, doesn’t mention the carving at all.
The scholars and researchers are holding out for stronger evidence – which, of course, is exactly what they should do.
One of the things I love most about history is that there are still little clues lying around just waiting to be discovered. And when it comes to legends, no matter how far-fetched they may seem, I can’t help but think there’s often a grain of truth hidden in there somewhere.
What do you think about this sketch? Does it look like it could have been made by the same person as the carving? And could the subject be Granacci?
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