HALL OF THE PRISONERS

In the nineteenth century, this hall ( Hall of the prisoners ) displayed ancient paintings from various collections, and later Michelangelo’s unfinished statues were exhibited here, forming a unified itinerary that culminated in Michelangelo’s David in the centre of the Tribune.

This hall gets its name from the four large sculptures of male nudists called Slaves, Prisoners, or Captives. They were begun by Michelangelo as part of his grandiose project for the tomb of Pope Julius II della Rovere.

It was intended to be the most magnificent tomb of Christian times, containing more than 40 figures, and was commissioned in 1505, before the Sistine Chapel (1508). It is believed that the four Prisoners are carved for the pillars below the tomb, which will be on display in the grand Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome.

During his months spent in the Carrara quarries, Michelangelo carefully selected the brightest marble, marking each block with three circles. The pope ordered him to postpone the tomb project in 1506 due to a lack of funds.

Below is a picture of Michelangelo’s reconstruction of the Julius II Tomb (1st project) from 1505.