Among the wonders of the Monti district in Rome, and of all the Italian and universal art, there is the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli, that dates back to the V century d.C. Entering from the main entrance, after you pass the elegant portico made thanks to ancient reused materials, and walking along the central aisle, you will be astonished. Why? Going toward the main altar and then look on the right. You will see a marble structure with a big, powerful, fine and amazing statue of a man with a long beard. You are looking at the Moses sculpted by Michelangelo, which was just a small part of a big monument that was not never made.

We are at the beginnings of the XVI century and the powerful pope Julius II commissioned to Michelangelo his funeral monument, something that, according to his wills, should be realized following the model and the style of the ancient roman emperors: something impressive and imposing. This project was probably the biggest regret of the artist. Due to several problems, incomprehensions with the Pope, the escape of Michelangelo from Rome to Florence because of misunderstanginds, the relationship between the master and the Pope were not good. It seems that the pontiff, at a certain moment, didn't financed the project anymore, and thus even the heir did the same, between a thousand thoughts, resentments, changes to the original design. The fact is that today this monument is just the pale image of that one that was born in the mind of a brilliant artist. For example it was originally be placed at the centre of the nave, in order to be able to be seen on all sides. Today it is resting to a wall.

But what is striking is Moses (who originally was to be about two metres from the ground), who is scratching his long and flowing beard, with a look that still appears enigmatic. He looks angry and pensive at the same time. We could stay hours to interrogate this Moses of marble, who with his greve face seems to want to warn, but at the same time, perhaps to reassure. Look the marble, so fluent and soft, but always marble made. So smooth and perfect, that according to some traditions and legends it is hiding some people also. Somewhere, in the middle of the beard, Michelangelo decided to hide a small figurine in the round of a woman or, according to others, of a man. Perhaps the man in question could be the pope himself, Julius II. The fact is that, apart from the famous legend of the question posed by the artist to his work, “Why don't you speak?”, other traditions and legends came from this perfect Moses. Like a nice story which saw Michelangelo as a kind of heretic, a man with ideas that are not fully consonant with that of the Catholic Church of his time.

For many, the idea of the art of Michelangelo, who saw the statues as a symbol of the human condition, in which the soul is imprisoned in the human body, as well as the essence of the artist and his subjects represented are almost imprisoned in the marble or in stone, was something that could belong to a world heretic, and little christian. But, after all, looking at Moses, in his attitude, almost detached from reality, but at the same time, it is impossibile to don't get in touch with Michelangelo. He transferred his energy to his creation. We do not surprise you, therefore, if this sublime sculpture has become a true model, copied by others in the following years, even if, at times, with little success (to learn more click here). The fact is that the proportions and the energy emitted by the Moses of Michelangelo remains, however, unmatched.