Saint Proculus
Saint Proculus is a sculpture by Michelangelo from his early period, made between 1494 and 1495 for the Arca of Saint Dominic inside the Basilica of Saint Dominic in Bologna. It was executed together with two other sculptures, Saint Petronius and an Angel, to complete the work left unfinished after the death of Niccolo dell'Arca. The source text notes that the figure shows a certain resemblance to Donatello. It also mentions a testimony by Fray Ludovico da Prelormo, the elderly custodian of the Arca of Saint Dominic, concerning damage to the statue in 1572.
June 2020 © Sailko · CC BY 3.0
April 2006 © Georges Jansoone · CC BY 2.5
August 2008 © James Steakley · CC BY-SA 3.0
October 2020 © Fabrizio Garrisi · CC BY-SA 4.0
August 2008 © James Steakley · CC BY-SA 3.0
Identification | |
| Title | Saint Proculus |
| Alternative titles | San Próculo; Saint Proclus; Saint Procule; "Святой Прокл Болонский"; São Proclo; Saint Proculus of Bologna |
| Type | statue |
| Subject | Saint Proculus of Bologna, a Roman soldier and martyr |
Historical context | |
| Date | 1494–1495 |
| Period | Michelangelo's early period |
| Context | One of Michelangelo's early works for the Ark of Saint Dominic in Bologna, made to complete work left unfinished by Niccolò dell'Arca after his death |
Creator | |
| Artist | Michelangelo Buonarroti |
Discovery and provenance | |
| Commissioned by | The friars of San Domenico |
| Destination | The Ark of Saint Dominic (tomb of Saint Dominic) in Bologna |
| Place of creation | Bologna |
| Associated sculptures | The Candle-bearing Angel and Saint Petronius |
| Previous artists on monument | Nicola Pisano; Niccolò dell'Arca |
| Patronage note | Giovan Francesco Aldrovandi mediated Michelangelo's employment with the friars of San Domenico |
Physical characteristics | |
| Number in set | One of three small marble statues |
| Height | 58.5 cm |
Materials | |
| Material | Marble |
Appearance | |
| Depicted figure | A young Roman soldier in contrapposto |
| Pose | Right arm suggests readiness for action; left hand holds a long cloak; left leg forward with weight on the right leg |
| Clothing | Short belted tunic, high boots, and a cloak carried over the shoulder |
| Attribute | A spear originally attached separately in metal, now lost |
| Facial expression | Proud, frowning, and tense |
Iconography and meaning | |
| Depicted subject | Proculus of Bologna, an Italian soldier-saint martyred under Diocletian in Bologna |
| Interpretation | The work has been read as highly original, showing a heroic, tense figure and anticipating Michelangelo's later heroic style in works such as the David and the Moses |
| Possible self-portrait reading | Fritz Erpel considered it an early self-portrait; Eric Scigliano rejected this view; if read as a self-portrait, Michelangelo would be shown as an angry young man ready to sweep away obstacles |
| Influences and comparisons | Resembles Donatello; possibly influenced by Niccolò dell'Arca's Saint Vitalis, the work of Ercole de' Roberti and Francesco del Cossa, Jacopo della Quercia, and perhaps Verrocchio's equestrian monument to Bartolomeo Colleoni; the composition also shares much with Michelangelo's later David |
Location and ownership | |
| Current location | Basilica of Saint Dominic, Bologna |
| Display status | On display |
History and restoration | |
| Damage and restoration | The statue was broken in 1572, reportedly knocked to the ground in more than fifty pieces by friar Pelegrino the converso, and was later repaired to its present form |
| Historical testimony | According to Friar Ludovico da Prelormo, elderly custodian of the Ark of Saint Dominic, the damage caused him intense heartache and was witnessed by the friars and many skilled masters |
Significance | |
| Art-historical significance | A notable early Michelangelo sculpture for the tomb of Saint Dominic, with clear contrapposto and an early expression of the heroic style |