From October 18, 2024, to January 26, 2025, Palazzo Vecchio will host the groundbreaking exhibition "Michelangelo and Power." Spanning the Sala delle Udienze and the Sala dei Gigli, this extraordinary event showcases over 50 masterpieces, including sculptures, paintings, drawings, autograph letters, and plaster casts. These works, generously loaned by renowned institutions, delve into Michelangelo’s complex relationship with power, his political insight, and his quest to establish himself as an equal to the world’s most influential figures.

At the heart of the exhibition is the Bust of Brutus, a striking political statement by Michelangelo, on loan from the Bargello National Museum. Complementing this centerpiece are portraits by acclaimed artists, including Giuliano Bugiardini’s portrayal of Michelangelo, alongside depictions of pivotal figures like Girolamo Savonarola, Pier Soderini, Cosimo I de' Medici, Vittoria Colonna, and Pope Leo X.

The collection is further enriched by Michelangelo’s renowned drawings and a dedicated gipsoteca, featuring plaster casts of some of his most iconic works. Each piece reflects the artist’s interactions and connections with the powerful figures of his era.

Curated by Cristina Acidini and Sergio Risaliti, the exhibition is a collaboration between the Comune di Firenze, the Fondazione Casa Buonarroti, and the Fondazione MUS.E. It offers a rare and profound exploration of Michelangelo’s artistry and his enduring dialogue with the power structures of his time.