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San Lorenzo

Artist: Gillanders, Lisa · b. 1970

San Lorenzo

In marked contrast to the sumptuous marble interior, the facade of the Basilica of San Lorenzo is unfinished with the exposed brickwork standing…

In marked contrast to the sumptuous marble interior, the facade of the Basilica of San Lorenzo is unfinished with the exposed brickwork standing waiting for its marble covering which proved too costly and was never provided.

The church is one of the largest and also one of the oldest in Florence. It is also the burial place of many of the powerful Medici family, who were patrons of the church, which makes its bare facade even more prominent.

Michelangelo received the commission to design a new facade in 1519, and prepared a scale model of his proposals which survives. In recent years a debate has begun to investigate whether it might be possible to create the facade as Michelangelo intended.

The artist has included a souvenir stall at foreground right, behind the Monument to Giovanni delle Bande Nere, a 28-year old Captain of mercenary troops fighting for Monarchs and Popes, and the father of Cosimo de Medici I. Originally intended to be placed within the basilica it proved controversial as it depicts a man in armour.

The monument as seen now was only effected in 1850, fully 290 years after it was completed. Until that date the sculpture was housed in the Palazzo Vecchio whilst the ornately carved plinth was housed in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.

© The Artist