Michelangelo exhibition in Florence highlights restored 17th-century work

A new exhibition at Casa Buonarroti in Florence presents a recently restored painting linked to the posthumous celebration of Michelangelo, shedding light on both the artist’s legacy and a lesser-known Florentine painter of the early 1600s.

Titled “Michelangelo verso il mito. Dal restauro nuova luce su Tiberio Titi”, the exhibition runs from 1 April to 30 September 2026 and centres on a large canvas by Tiberio Titi, part of the historic decoration of the Buonarroti family house museum. The exhibition is organised by the Fondazione Casa Buonarroti, curated by Cristina Acidini and Alessandro Cecchi, and produced with Opera Laboratori, which also designed the installation. The restoration was carried out by Elizabeth Wicks and Lorenzo Conti.

A painting about Michelangelo’s memory

The exhibition focuses on The Placement of Michelangelo’s Bust on His Tomb in Santa Croce (1618–1620), a work commissioned as part of a broader programme to celebrate Michelangelo’s legacy decades after his death.

The painting depicts the symbolic moment when a marble bust of Michelangelo was placed on his tomb in the Basilica of Santa Croce in 1574. The scene shows workers lifting the bust into position, while members of the Buonarroti family attend the ceremony, reflecting how the artist’s memory was carefully constructed and preserved. 

Restoration reveals new details

The recent restoration, supported by Friends of Florence through a donation by Donna Malin, has improved the painting’s legibility and revealed previously hidden elements, including the artist’s signature.

The project was presented by Cristina Acidini, president of the Fondazione Casa Buonarroti, and Alessandro Cecchi, the foundation’s director, who highlighted the importance of the restoration in bringing renewed attention to Tiberio Titi and to the programme celebrating Michelangelo’s legacy. It was also supported by Friends of Florence, whose president Simonetta Brandolini d’Adda emphasised the organisation’s ongoing role in funding the conservation of Florence’s artistic heritage.

For centuries, the canvas had been installed face-down on the ceiling of the gallery, which caused visible deformations and widespread cracking. Conservation work removed layers of dirt and yellowed varnish, bringing back the original colour contrasts and highlighting the painter’s technique. 

Scientific analysis of pigments and materials also provided new information about Titi’s working methods, including the use of ultramarine blue derived from lapis lazuli.

Rediscovering Tiberio Titi

Alongside the restored painting, the exhibition draws attention to Tiberio Titi, a Florentine artist active in the Medici court.

Born in Florence in 1573, he trained with his father Santi di Tito and later inherited his workshop. He produced religious works and court portraits, and for a period worked for the Medici family before being overshadowed by other artists in the early 17th century. 

Practical information

• Location: Casa Buonarroti, Via Ghibellina, Florence
• Dates: 1 April – 30 September 2026
• Exhibition: Michelangelo verso il mito. Dal restauro nuova luce su Tiberio Titi
• Access: Included with museum admission

The exhibition is organised by the Fondazione Casa Buonarroti, with support from Friends of Florence, which funded the restoration.

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