Bust of Brutus

myminifactory

Donato Gioannotti, a Roman exile with strong anti-Medici republican views, commissioned this statue for his friend Cardinal Ridolfi as a gift embodying their shared ideals of freedom and justice. By depicting Brutus, who took down a ruthless leader, Gioannotti aimed to honor the memory of Duke Alessandro de' Medici's assassin, Lorenzino, known as the "Tuscan Brutus." The half-finished sculpture showcases a powerful figure with a bold head that radiates both inner and outer strength. Tiberio Calcagni, Michelangelo's apprentice, saw this project through to completion.