San Lorenzo, façade 1517

This is a sketch of the façade of San Lorenzo, created in red chalk by Michelangelo. The artist lived during the High Renaissance, a period of immense cultural and artistic change in Europe. The façade was commissioned by Pope Leo X, born Giovanni de' Medici, who sought to create a monument that would reflect the power, wealth, and prestige of his family. But Michelangelo was not only working for the Medici; he was working in a world of complex politics, where Florence was a republic and then it was a dukedom. Michelangelo was both empowered and constrained by the artistic expectations and cultural norms of his time, which favored male artists and patrons and classical, religious themes. Michelangelo's sexuality has been a topic of discussion, adding to the complexity of his identity as a man in the Renaissance. While unbuilt, the sketch is an emotional expression of the tensions between artistic genius, personal identity, and the demands of power. It reminds us of the complex negotiations that artists undertake when creating works that both serve and challenge the status quo.