Tombe van Giuliano de' Medici door Michelangelo Buonarroti in de Capella Medici in Florence before 1871

Giacomo Brogi’s photograph captures Michelangelo’s tomb of Giuliano de’ Medici, a powerful figure in Renaissance Florence. Consider the identities wrapped up in this image: Michelangelo, the master sculptor, immortalizing Giuliano, a member of the ruling Medici family. Brogi’s photograph, produced later, reflects how the Renaissance ideals were interpreted and remembered in the 19th century. Michelangelo’s sculpture departs from traditional representations of tombs. Giuliano isn’t depicted in repose, but as an active, thinking individual. It's interesting to consider what it meant to sculpt such a commanding male figure, especially given the patriarchal society of the time and the Medici family's role within it. As Michelangelo once said, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." This photograph captures not just a sculpture, but a network of power, artistry, and historical memory, inviting us to reflect on how the past continues to shape our present.