De men of Michelangelo

It is no secret that Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) had a great fascination with the male body, yet no exhibition has ever been devoted to this subject before. The 22 drawings that the Teylers Museum purchased in Rome in 1790, form the heart of the exhibition.

Michelangelo was inspired by his predecessors in classical antiquity and human anatomy. With his revolutionary sketches and drawings, he had a major influence on art history, in which he was also considered controversial.

This exhibition uses Michelangelo’s work to highlight timeless themes such as sexuality, gender and ideals of beauty. The Michelangelo collection of Teylers Museum is supplemented with loans from around the world, including the statue of Apollo-David.

Cover image: Michelangelo, Studies for the head of Leda, 1530.