de' Medici, Lorenzo Duke of Urbino - Florence, Italy

Lorenzo de' Medici 

Duke of Urbino

Florence, Italy

N 43° 46.516 E 011° 15.200

The tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino is located in the New Sacristy of the Medici Chapel at Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, Florence, Italy. The tomb  is one of Michelangelo's most famous creations. The sculpted tomb was created in the New Sacristy of the Medici Chapel that was designed by Michelangelo. The tomb contains a marble sarcophagus and three sculpted figures.

A above the sarcophagus is a seated sculpture of Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino. He is wearing a Roman suit of armor with a helmet placed forward over his forehead. His head right hand is resting on his right thigh and his left hand is touching his left cheek. The sarcophagus is flanked by two of Michelangelo's most famous sculptures: the reclining nude male figure representing dusk on the left and the reclining female figure called Aurora representing dawn.

Dusk - Sarcophagus - Dawn 

A sign next to the tomb is inscribed:

TOMB OF LORENZO, DUKE OF URBINO

Michelangelo sculpted tomb of Duke of Urbino
(1492-1519) nephew of Leo X, during his last years in Florence
between 1531 and 1532. Dedicate of Machiavelli's The Prince,
Lorenzo is portrayed immersed in thought, and his pensive
temperament is in line with the allegories of time placed at
either side of the sarcophagus. Dawn seems to be waking from
the torpor of sleep, while Dusk, in abandon of painful
inertia, seems to be about to fall asleep

Lorenzo was born in Florence on September 12, 1492. He was the a son of Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici and Alfonsina Orsini and the grandson and namesake of Lorenzo "The Magnificent" de' Medici. When his uncle, Giuliano de' Medici, handed over control of its government, in August 1513, he became the leader of the Republic of Florence. The position did not suit him well and in 1516 he had his uncle, Pope Leo X, make him Duke of Urbino at age 24.

As a general in the army of the Republic of Florence, he lead their troops during War of Urbino (1517) against the former Duke of Urbino, Francesco Maria I della Rovere. During the war he was wounded and retired to Tuscany. In September 1517, he regained Urbino by a treaty. In 1521, the Urbino reverted to the Della Rovere family.