The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-20
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
TOME OF LORENZO Dl MEDICI.


The Florence correspondent of the New
York Tribune writes: 1t having been re-
Gently noticed that the majestic statue OF
Michel Angelo, known as the Crepuscolo,
or Twilight, surmounting the sarcophsgus
of Duke Lorenzo, in the sacristry OF the
Church of San Lorenzo, had slipped little
from it's inclined position, threatening to
fall the minister of public instruction gave
orders that it should be lifted from It's place
and properly secured. To do this be
Selected the Commandante Aurelis Gotti, di-
rector of the museums OF Florence, In the
presence of the Syndic PerroZZi, and the
Project MontsZumoli, and committee OF
the most distinguished sculptOrs, painters,
professors etc, such as Dupre, Ussi, PoiIas-
trini Milanesi, and others distinguished in
art. 1t was thus made a solemn affair, be
fitting the reputation of Michel Angelo and
the rank of the deceased princes. IL so hap
pened that only two foreigners were invited
to be present. Charles Heath Wilson, OF
England, who is now translating and largely
augmenting from his own studies GottIs
new life of Michel Angelo, was one, and
was the other, which. gives me the opportu-
nifty of presenting TO you an account OF
AN EVENT OF MUCH INTEREST,
both artistically and historically, the latter
especiallv because of Grimm's assertion that
the Italians had misnamed the portrait
statues above the two sepulchres. Had it
not been for the slipping OF the Crepuscolo
from its base, Grimm's positive assertions
might have gone unquestloned tcertalniy py
the tOuristreaders of his interesting biog-
raphv). and in time acquired the consistency
of historical facts. The Italians themselves
had begun to doubt what body was In the
sarcophagus over which brOods II Penseroso,
the most remarkable statue of modern art.
Consequently the authorities determineo
to avail themselves of this occasion, also,
to lift the companion piece to Twilight-the
Dawn, or Aurora-to slide the massive cover
of the ssrcophagus aside, ard to inspect
tho contents. Some believed that II held,
beside Lorenzo. the body of his wife, Mad
dalena OF Boulogne, who died q Jew Gays
before him in giving birth to the sunse-
uuenily celebrated Catharine oil Medici,
queen of France. S)me of the learned be-
| leVed that nothing would be found inside
| the sarcOphagus, and others, RELYING on tue
ancient records If the church, affirmed that,
on the I4rh March, 1886, week after his as
sassination, Alssssndro's corpse was therein
deposited, alongside of that OF bis reputed
| father, which had been there Uttered on the
| 7th May, 1919. The memories of good and
evil, of stupendous genius, baseness, folly,
crime, tyranny, and aristocratic pride and
self worship,
CLUSTER THICKLY ABOUT THE ANCIENT
of San Lorenzo, and fancies and suggestions
came thick and fast within them at any visit.
But these came hundred fold faster at an
event which restored to sight the mortal
| relics of two of the most wicked of a race as
unscrupulous as it was powerful, one OF
whom had sought the life of the very mau-
| Michael AngelO-to whom the family owes
| the MODEST sepulchral monument the world
possesses. A gossiping chronicler OF the
| times has written of Alessandro that
| it was uncertain whether he was the son OF
Duke Lorenzo, his groom, or Cardinal Oh
Medci, afterward Pope Clement VII. His
| mother however, was a mulatto woman OF
lowest origin and character, who stamped
her lineage and passions Individually ID
the features of her Legitimate son,
so that Whatever doubt there might be as TO
his paternal origin, there could exist none on
the maternal side. His infamous career
after he was imposed on the Florentines as
their duke, by Clement, as all know, was
brought to a speedy end by the dagger Of
his cousin, Lorenzo di Medici, In house ol
debauch. But even he found writer of bis
own period who asserted that he was not 50
bad and brainleSs as he was popularity de-
picted. which might we'll be, considering
that his blood on one side was prolific in
talents OF various sorts, ana not altogether
destitute of virtues, even according 10 th'
; then ethical standard. All this heightened
at all events, seeing the conformation of hi
, skull After the Crepuscola and Aurora haC
been adroitly and skilfully hoisted out o
their places and secured on timbers, sup
ported by the stone cOrnlce at the feet OF tn
; statue of Dnke Lorenzo and a massiv
scaffolding, the stone lid of
THE sARCoPHAeUs WAS REMOVED.
3 Underneath this was wooden cover, which
being pried of, exposed two corpses, lynn
with their heads at opposite ends OF tn
sarcophagus. They we're wrapped in fin
I linen, having underclothing with lace trim
! mings and rich. outer garments, now dis
F: colored and rotten. The bodies had bee
. EN- balmed the flesh had all disappeared, th
/, bones were disjointed, and, in lifting then
! all fell apart Which was Lorenzo? Whic
: was Alessandro?s Was either Lorenzo O
{ | Alessandro? Such were the questions q
;, once asked. There were no jewels, metal:
: or any clew to Identification, other than tn
!. skeletons themselves. The first craniuI
;, taken out was a normal European one {
average size and shape, with straight hair
4 | The second was covered with A beautiful
n velvet cap of the old ducal shape, in a tol
d cradle state of preservation. On raisin
s this there appeared an unmis
= takably mongrel skull, small, mar
row, With very re'reating facial line. pre-
iecting, heavy under jaw, and ever,
d cal DEVELOPMENT, with curly hair. The frs
:, remark made by one of the Florentine
o present was: $50 this was the creature tina
: was forced on Florence as her first duke
u 1t sufficiently indicates the impression as
II the identity OF the skull with the opinion
n universally entertained of AlessandrO; a
II identity which was afterwsrd scienti6call
IL established by the medical gentleme
d present, Drs. Psganucci and Forest. Ate
a the notary had recorded in legal form th
If facts established, signed and witnessed b
It the officers OF the government and the cit
= the remains were again deposited in IL
n sarcophagus, some bits OF the garments an
It locks of Alessandro's crispy hair haTin
}, been taken by the few who had taste fC
, CHASTITY relics of two of the most
. INFAMOUS CHARACTERS OF ITALIAN HIsToR,
4 Lorenzo, to whom the equivocal compl
u ment of being considered the father
,. Alessandro, had been paid by Clement, VIII
~ fnuq shirL-ad the honor hirnaalf vuaa liha