The nickname Il Braghettone, meaning the breeches maker, was bestowed upon Daniele da Volterra after he received a directive from Pope Pius IV to conceal the nudity found within Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. This intervention, initiated in 1565, required him to add loincloths and drapery to the Sistine Chapel frescoes to align with the mandates of the Council of Trent.
Early Career and Relocation to Rome
Born in 1509 in Volterra, which was then part of the Republic of Florence, Daniele Ricciarelli began his formal training under Sienese artists Il Sodoma and Baldassare Peruzzi. Dissatisfied with these apprenticeships, he moved to Rome around 1535. He assisted Peruzzi with frescoes in the Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne and later joined the workshop of Perino del Vaga. His early Roman work included painting a frieze depicting the life of Fabius Maximus and contributing to the decoration of the Massimi chapel in Trinità dei Monti.
Professional Ties to Michelangelo
In Rome, Daniele established a significant connection with Michelangelo, who leveraged his influence with Pope Paul III to secure commissions and a role for Daniele as the superintendent of Vatican works. Michelangelo frequently provided sketches that informed Daniele's artistic output, most notably for the frescoes in the Orsini chapel at Trinità dei Monti and the celebrated Descent from the Cross. Beyond his painting, Daniele demonstrated his technical command through a marble bust of Michelangelo and his stewardship of artifacts, such as the marble knee from Michelangelo’s Deposition.
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Following the death of Pope Paul III in 1549, Daniele lost his official Vatican position and the accompanying pension. This shift prompted a transition toward a primary focus on sculpture. His notable sculptural efforts include a Cleopatra housed in the Belvedere. He also received a commission from France to produce a bronze equestrian statue of Henry II. While he completed the horse, the work was repurposed for a monument to Louis XIII at the Place Royale and was subsequently destroyed during the French Revolution.
Artistic Style and Legacy
Daniele da Volterra was known for his mastery of colour, precise composition, and complex manipulation of light and shade. While some critics argued that his work struggled to maintain the sublime quality of Michelangelo’s, others highlighted his vigorous approach to form. His legacy is also defined by his role as a teacher, having trained pupils such as Giulio Mazzoni and Michele Alberti. He died in Rome in 1566, leaving behind a body of work including The Massacre of the Innocents, Assumption of the Virgin, and Presentation of the Virgin to the Temple.
Fast facts
- Born: 1509, Volterra
- Died: 1566, Rome
- Occupations: painter, sculptor, draftsperson
- Nickname: Il Braghettone
- Pupils: Giulio Mazzoni, Michele Alberti
- Notable work: David and Goliath
- Worked in: Rome
- Nationality: Italian
Questions readers ask
Why was Daniele da Volterra called the breeches maker?
He was tasked by Pope Pius IV in 1564 to paint loincloths and vestments over the nude figures in Michelangelo’s Last Judgment fresco.
Which artists trained Daniele da Volterra?
He initially studied under Il Sodoma and Baldassare Peruzzi before apprenticing with Perino del Vaga.
What happened to his equestrian statue of Henry II?
The completed horse sculpture was later used for a statue of Louis XIII and was destroyed during the French Revolution.
Achievements
- Notable work: David and Goliath (recto)
- Notable work: David and Goliath (verso)
- Notable work: David and Goliath
- Notable work: Assumption of the Virgin
