Allegory of Dawn

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The original sculpture, Dawn, was carved out of marble by Michelangelo between 1520-1534 and is considered an early example of the mannerist style. Dawn is one of three statues that adorn the tomb of Lorenzo II de Medici, a relatively minor member of the family whose main claim to fame is that he was the father of Catherine de Medici, future Queen of France. Lorenzo wass known to study the occult and his tomb holds one of the most important messages regarding the principals of alchemy, the circle of life. Michelangelo himself studied alchemy as a young man and these messages are represented in the tomb. Based on the striking similarity of female images within the chapel, it has been suggested that in the statue of Dawn, which on a fine morning gets lit by direct beams of sunlight, Michelangelo had represented the Immaculate Conception. In fact, Dawn's face may not necessarily represent a difficult awakening, but, on the contrary, it may display a carnal languor of a satisfied desire. This notion stems from the theory that all three female statues of the Medici Chapel reflected different images of the Virgin. Alongside Night, Dawn is the only female nude Michelangelo ever sculpted.