Rime di Michelagnolo Buonarroti

What it is

This is the first printed collection of Michelangelo's poems, titled Rime di Michelagnolo Buonarroti, published in Florence in 1623. It was edited by his grandnephew, also named Michelangelo Buonarroti, nearly sixty years after the artist's death.

Why it matters

Michelangelo was not only a sculptor and painter but also a prolific poet, and this edition introduced him to readers as a significant lyric poet. Because the grandnephew edited the text, later scholars have noted it was not fully faithful to the originals; a more historically accurate edition only appeared in the nineteenth century. Still, this 1623 book shaped how Michelangelo's poetry was first known to the public.

Look closer

• Why might a family member have wanted to publish these poems decades after Michelangelo's death?
• What problems can arise when an editor reworks someone else's writing?
• What does the existence of this book tell you about how Michelangelo was remembered?