Why it matters
A young man twists and strains with his hands behind his back. Michelangelo carved him in 1513 for the tomb of Pope Julius II, but the 'slaves' were eventually left out of the monument.
Did you know?
- It is 2.15 metres tall.
- The figures were only called 'slaves' in the 19th century; originally they were 'prisoners'.
- Michelangelo gave it and the Dying Slave to Roberto Strozzi in 1546, in thanks for his hospitality during illness.
Based on the Wikipedia article Rebellious Slave (CC BY-SA 4.0).
