Sleeping nude youth

myminifactory

This series of finely carved reliefs by Baccio Bandinelli (1493 - 1560) was crafted to adorn the Cathedral sanctuary (or 'choir') of Santa Maria del Fiore - a church renowned as the third largest in the world, following St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. The eighty-six epic reliefs were commissioned by Cosimo I de'Medici to bring the cathedral into line with the Mannerist style prevalent during that era. Each relief showcases a different saint, portrayed in antique garb or nude attire. While their identities remain unclear, these men are likely to represent patriarchs and prophets of Israel and Greco-Roman heroes, much like the figures depicted by Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling forty years prior. The meaning of the choir sculptures was further emphasized through a mural painted inside the dome. As a skilled sculptor and cunning court follower, Bandinelli often compromised his artistic vision to please his patron. His style drew inspiration from Michelangelo's oversized aspects but focused on massive muscular bodies rather than abstract heroic ideals.