Design for an Equestrian Statue of Henry II of France

Michelangelo, 1559 - 1564

In 1559 Catherine de Medici commissioned Michelangelo to create a monument with an equestrian statue for her husband, who had died in a tournament. However, it was never realized due to the death of the artist and of the assistant who was to take on the work. This sketch focuses mainly on the monumental pedestal (base). Its shape is derived from a design that the great master had made about fifty years earlier.

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-1953-140
  • Dimensionsheight 130 mm x width 120 mm
  • Physical characteristicszwart en wit krijt

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Design for an Equestrian Statue of Henry II of France

  • Object type

  • Object number

    RP-T-1953-140


Creation

  • Creation

    draftsman (artist): Michelangelo

  • Dating

    1559 - 1564

  • Search further with


Material and technique

  • Physical description

    zwart en wit krijt

  • Dimensions

    height 130 mm x width 120 mm


This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject


Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Aankoop uit het legaat van de heer J.C.J. Bierens de Haan, Amsterdam, met medewerking van Mevrouw Baronesse de Geer van Juphaas, geb. Roëll van Hazerswoude en van de Vereniging Rembrandt

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1953

  • Copyright

  • Provenance

    …; collection Dr. E. Baron van der Heydt, Ascona;{Joh. Wilde 1959, p. 378}…; Ferrucio Asta (1900-1952), Milan;{Joh. Wilde 1959.} …; bequeathed by Dr. Johan Catharinus Justus Bierens de Haan (1867-1951), Amsterdam, to the museum, with support from Mrs. Baronesse de Geer van Jutphaas, née Roëll van Hazerswoude and the Vereniging Rembrandt, 1953

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.


Documentation


Persistent URL