The Dying Slave 

Slavery during the Italian Renaissance was much different than the slavery did in the United States. Slavery in the Italian Renaissance was not based off of race. As the Italian city-states grew in size the demands for slaves also grew. The most of the wealthy citizens had at least one slave. The owner had full rights to their slaves, they had the legal right to sell and “enjoy” the slave.  Unlike, in the United States if the slave gave birth, the slave’s children were born free. The slaves and their child were both incorporated into the household. Many times if the slave and owner produced a child together the slave owner would raise the child as a legitimate child.

However, things were not all good for the slaves; a more insidious side of slavery was being to develop. The ideal of a “plantation slave” began to emerge among the Venetian sugar cane plantations. This type of slavery grew in popularity, because the labor was so cheap.  

Just like everything else that was happening during this time period, slavery also made its way into art. Artists, such as Michelangelo, began to make sculptures of slaves. These sculptures are known as the “Dying Slave.” Originally, created for the tomb of Pope Julius II, but he ended up donating it to Robert Strozzi, who later took them to France.

And here is a little bit more about the sculptures......