How Michelangelo’s Slaves Travelled To France

A game of political rivalry and personal aspiration

Rebellious Slave (detail). Source — Public Domain

Pope Julius II had a monumental dream — to build 40 life-size statues in his tomb.

For this ambitious project, the Pope chose Michelangelo.

He mapped out an iconographic plan where the lower level would be dedicated to man (slaves), the middle level…