Battle of Cascina (Michelangelo)

Battle of Cascina
Copy of the Battle by Michelangelo's pupil Aristotele da Sangallo
Artist	Michelangelo
Preceded by	Doni Tondo
Followed by	Sistine Chapel ceiling

The Battle of Cascina is a never-completed painting in fresco commissioned from Michelangelo for the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. He created only the preparatory drawing before being called to Rome by Pope Julius II, where he worked on the Pope's tomb; before completing this project, he returned to Florence for some months to complete the cartoon.^[1]

Origins

The work was commissioned from Michelangelo by

Michelangelo depicted a scene at the beginning of the battle, when the Florentine army was initially taken by surprise in the attack by the Pisans. He depicts Florentine soldiers bathing naked in the river Arno, responding to a trumpet warning of the Pisan attack. As the soldiers emerge from the river and buckle on their armour, they are threatened by shots from the Pisans. Several soldiers look or point toward the Pisan position to the left. One soldier has apparently been hit and fallen back into the river, while others leap energetically into action.

By choosing this episode, Michelangelo could depict his favoured topic: the nude male figure in various postures.^[1]

Studies

• 
  Michelangelo's study of Battle of Cascina
• 
  Michelangelo's study of Battle of Cascina
• 
  Michelangelo's study of Battle of Cascina
• 
  Michelangelo's study of Battle of Cascina
• 
  Michelangelo's study of Battle of Cascina
• 
  Michelangelo's study of Battle of Cascina
• 
  Male Back With a Flag

See also

• List of works by Michelangelo
• The Battle of Anghiari by Leonardo da Vinci
  , the pendant to this painting (also lost)