Study On The Tomb Of Pope Julius II

The main research object of this thesis is the tomb of Pope Julius II(including the tomb sculptures),which currently exists in San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome,and the various designs of the tomb of Pope Julius II,which has been changed,abandoned or compromised repeatedly,of which certain elements were retained.In in the sixteenth century,Rome and Florence saw the birth of what we call the “Grand Style” or the “Classical Style,” namely the purification of the language of art by the excision of regional idioms,the development of a universal language by the assimilation of the Greco-Roman ideal of beauty.The first project of the tomb of Pope Julius II had a close relationship with this new fashion or taste.From the birth of the first design of the mausoleum in 1505 to the final completion of the tomb in 1545,Michelangelo completed at least six different design schemes and signed at least four contracts with the pope and his heirs.The architectural structure,sculptures,figures,ornamentations,artistic style and iconographic features also changed frequently.The thesis is divided into five chapters.In Chapters 1 to 2,in reference to the biographies,poems,letters,drawing sheets and other documents,the history and different designs of the tomb of Julius II would be revealed and represented.In Chapters 3 to 5,referring to the relevant theories and methods of Iconography put forward by Emile Male,Erwin Panofsky and other scholars,the content and symbolic meaning of the sculptures and figures of this tomb would be interpreted,and referring to Heinrich Wolfflin's theories,the artistic style of the sculptures of the tomb would be analyzed as well.Based on this,combining the achievements of disciplines such as history and philosophy,the aim or purpose of this thesis is to explain the uniqueness of the tomb of Julius II,thoroughly investigate the continuity of the Renaissance tomb art,and expound the cultural connotation of the tomb as the carrier of the concept of life,death and soul.