These two sculptures by Michelangelo are part of the four allegories of the Parts of the day, on the sarcophagus of the tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino in the New Sacristy in San Lorenzo in Florence. Michelangelo worked on it from 1524 to 1534, interrupting his work during the siege of the city of Florence in 1531, taking refuge in the city of Rome. The Aurora, or Alba, represents the initial part of the day and is seen as a feminine personification, half spread and naked, like the other statue of the series. His head is veiled and he is making a gesture as if waking up from sleep, getting up from his bed and turning his torso towards the spectator, with one elbow bent as a support and the other arm leaning up to look at shoulder height, the veil to lift it. One leg is lying softly on the profile of the sarcophagus, the other is bent forward and seeks a support. Twilight, or Sunset, represents the final part of the day and is symbolized by a naked man, lying down and one leg crossed over the other, almost as if he were about to fall asleep (on the contrary, his pendant, the Aurora, is represented in act of waking up). The Twilight has an arm resting on the leg, with which it holds part of the veil that covers it, while with the other arm supports the weight of the body, whose limbs seem to be on the point of resting wearily. The figure is quite rich in details, the face is surrounded by a thick beard and the look is thoughtfully turned downwards.
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