Michelangelo’s Hiding Spot To Evade Execution Opens To Public For First Time

Image via Francesco Fantani / Musei del Bargello

Michelangelo took refuge in a cramped corridor in Florence while supposedly escaping a death sentence ordered by the Pope. During this time of uncertainty, he did what he did best with the little space he had—he worked.

Come November 15, this chamber—filled with sketches and measuring just 33 feet long, 10 feet wide, and eight feet high—will open to the public for the very first time, giving visitors an intimate look at rough, never-before-seen works attributed to the sculptor.

The space was uncovered under the Medici Chapels in Florence, where Michelangelo made tombs for the affluent Medici family, by a restorer nearly 50 years ago.

History whispers that Michelangelo hid in this nook in 1530 after Pope Clement VII, a member of the Medici family, called for his execution due to the artist’s working relationship with the republican government and his participation in a movement that resulted in the family’s exile.

After two months of self-imposed isolation, during which it’s believed Michelangelo sketched on the walls, the Pope rescinded his order and Michelangelo was freed. The sculptor returned to his Florentine commissions until his final departure for Rome in 1534.

The room’s discovery dates back to November 1975. Found behind a trapdoor and beneath layers of plaster by a restorer were murals sketched with charred wood sticks and red ochre, varying in size and overlapping in places. Paolo Dal Pogetto, the director of the Museum of the Medici Chapels at the time, later ascribed most of these to Michelangelo.

Visitors to this storied space can expect a treasure trove of Michelangelo’s raw creativity, with sketches that may include early concepts for the New Sacristy—the Medici family’s mausoleum—along with other sculptures and paintings.

“This place grants today’s visitors the unique experience of being able to come into direct contact not only with the creative process of the maestro, but also with the perception of the formation of his myth as a divine artist,” explains Francesca de Luca, curator of the Museum of the Medici Chapels, in a statement. 

The Musei del Bargello, which runs the chapel and various sites in Florence, says access to Michelangelo’s secret room will be exclusive, with reservations allowing for a maximum of four people per group and capped at 100 visitors weekly to prevent damage from light exposure. Due to the room’s accessibility constraints, involving a narrow and steep staircase, it won’t be available to individuals with disabilities, and for safety reasons, to children under the age of 10. 

The chamber will be open on select days and times, offering 15-minute viewing slots escorted by museum security personnel. Reservations will be available through March 30.

Tickets to this rare glimpse into Michelangelo’s personal studio will cost €20 (US$21.40) per person, with the cost excluding a €10 (US$10.71) entrance fee and €3 (US$3.21) reservation fee.

[via Hyperallergic and, images via Francesco Fantani / Musei del Bargello]