Lorenzo de Medici by Michelangelo

A bronze double inkstand – the base is heavy slate with holders for two glass inkwells. In the center is a bronze casting of Michelangelo’s statue of Lorenzo de Medici. The original statue is part of the Medici Chapel in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy. This original statue, created between 1526 and 1534, depicts Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbino, in a contemplative pose, with his chin resting on his hand.

Lorenzo de Medici, also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, was a prominent Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. He was a significant patron of the arts and played a crucial role in the cultural and political life of Florence. His support for artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli helped to foster the Renaissance’s flourishing.