Graftombe van Lorenzo II de' Medici in de Sint-Laurensbasiliek te Florence c. 1860 - 1890

This is Giacomo Brogi's photographic print of the Tomb of Lorenzo II de' Medici in the Basilica di San Lorenzo, Florence. Immediately, the photograph presents a study in contrasts. The strong horizontals of the sarcophagus and the architecture play against the verticality of the columns and the seated figure above. The photograph invites a reading of power and representation. The reclining figures, caught in perpetual repose, contrast sharply with the active, seated figure above. The formal arrangement, with the seated figure overlooking the reclining ones, reinforces a hierarchy, a visual metaphor for power and status. The sepia tone and the architectural setting contribute to the photograph's solemnity. But consider too, how Brogi's choice of perspective and lighting sculpts the figures and the tomb, emphasizing their three-dimensionality. This play of light and shadow animates the scene, inviting viewers to contemplate not just death, but also the dynamic forces of power, representation, and eternal remembrance.