Michelangelo supervises the fortifications of Florence

The historical scene, carried out by Matteo Rosselli between 1615 and 1616, shows the moment in which Michelangelo, during the siege of Florence in 1529, exercises his role of “general, governor and prosecutor” of the fortification works, showing to an army commander his plan to protect the city. The characters were on the hill of San Miniato, focal point of the city defence; in the background, we can see San Miniato and San Salvatore, with its safeguards designed by Michelangelo, in which stands out the defence of the bell tower of San Miniato with the use of mattresses.