Michelangelo's San Lorenzo to be finished five centuries late
ROME -- It was an architectural gem that Michelangelo never completed. Now the magnificent façade that he designed for the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, is to be erected five centuries late, thanks to the detective work of Renaissance scholars.
Gabriele Morolli, an architectural historian and a member of the reconstruction team, said that he had traced three of the façade’s columns to a depository at Pisa.
One has already been brought to Florence and is being guarded “day and night”. The team plans to dig up another of the columns, known to have been buried near the church in the 17th century.
Professor Morolli said that he was on the trail of other marble components of the façade, including reliefs and statues. A digital reconstruction of the façade is to be projected on to the front of San Lorenzo next weekend.
Read entire article at Times (of London)
Gabriele Morolli, an architectural historian and a member of the reconstruction team, said that he had traced three of the façade’s columns to a depository at Pisa.
One has already been brought to Florence and is being guarded “day and night”. The team plans to dig up another of the columns, known to have been buried near the church in the 17th century.
Professor Morolli said that he was on the trail of other marble components of the façade, including reliefs and statues. A digital reconstruction of the façade is to be projected on to the front of San Lorenzo next weekend.