MILAN SFORZA CASTLE

Just outside Milan's historical center lies the Sforza Castle, a magnificent 15th-century structure erected on the remnants of an earlier medieval fortress, commissioned by Francesco Sforza, the city's ruler at the time. Throughout the centuries, the Castle saw various rulers, both local and foreign, such as Emperor Charles V and Napoleon Bonaparte, who governed Milan before the Unification of Italy. Following World War II, the Castle became home to the Modern Art Gallery, where visitors can admire works by renowned painters like Tiepolo, Andrea Mantegna, Filippo Lippi, Canaletto, Bronzino, Tintoretto, and many others.

We visited the castle to see the Rondanini Pietà, the last, unfinished marble sculpture by Michelangelo, which he worked on until his death in 1564. This sculpture, depicting the Virgin Mary mourning the frail body of the deceased Christ, is now housed in the Museo della Pietà Rondanini at Sforza Castle in Milan, Italy. The name "Rondanini" originates from Marquess Giuseppe Rondinini, whose collection included the sculpture in the 19th century.

Michelangelo continued working on the sculpture until his final days, leaving visible traces of multiple alterations, including the removal and reshaping of limbs and heads. The figures are carved from a single block of marble, offering a subtle and less imposing portrayal of the Mother and Son compared to earlier Pietà versions. The sculpture retains elements of an earlier form, with Christ's legs and right arm still showing remnants of a different design that Michelangelo later revised. Light and shadows were important considerations for Michelangelo and the pieta is lit up in such a way that one can appreciate the shadows it casts from four different light sources aimed at it.