ticketsMember | Make a donation

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564)

Attributed to Daniele da Volterra Italian
probably ca. 1545
Not on view
This unfinished portrait has been identified as the work of Daniele da Volterra, Michelangelo's faithful follower and the author of a bronze bust of the great Florentine artist. Indeed, an inventory drawn up after Daniele's death lists "a portrait of Michelangelo on panel." The source for numerous copies, the portrait was probably painted about 1545, when Michelangelo would have been around seventy.

Although the work looks unfinished, Daniele has fully described the sculptor's features and his left hand, almost as though recalling Michelangelo's notion that, "It is necessary to keep one's compass in one's eyes and not in the hand, for the hands execute, but the eye judges."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564)
  • Artist: Attributed to Daniele da Volterra (Italian, Volterra 1509–1566 Rome)
  • Date: probably ca. 1545
  • Medium: Oil on wood
  • Dimensions: 34 3/4 x 25 1/4 in. (88.3 x 64.1 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Clarence Dillon, 1977
  • Object Number: 1977.384.1
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
The Holy Family with the Young Saint John the Baptist, Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo) Italian, Oil on wood
The Holy Family with the Young Saint John the Baptist
Andrea del Sarto (Andrea d'Agnolo)
ca. 1528
Portrait of a Young Man, Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio) Italian, Oil on wood
Portrait of a Young Man
Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio)
ca. 1470
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist, Perino del Vaga (Pietro Buonaccorsi) Italian, Oil on wood
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist
Perino del Vaga (Pietro Buonaccorsi)
ca. 1524–26
Portrait of a Young Man, Bronzino (Agnolo di Cosimo di Mariano) Italian, Oil on wood
Portrait of a Young Man
Bronzino (Agnolo di Cosimo di Mariano)
1530s
Christ Crowned with Thorns, Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio) Italian, Oil, possibly over tempera, on wood
Christ Crowned with Thorns
Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio)

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.