片うでを頭の上にのせ、目を閉じて体をよじる若者の像。ミケランジェロの『瀕死の奴隷』とよばれる大理石像です。1513〜15年の作品で、今はパリのルーヴル美術館にあります。題名は「死にかけた奴隷」ですが、苦しんでいるというより、深い眠りに落ちていくように見えます。この画像は展示室で撮られた写真です。

This marble statue shows a young man with one arm over his head. His eyes are closed and his body is twisting. It is called the Dying Slave, by Michelangelo, and was made between 1513 and 1515. It is now in the Louvre in Paris. Despite its title, he seems to be falling into a deep sleep rather than suffering. This image is a photo taken in the gallery.

この像は、ローマ教皇ユリウス2世の巨大な墓のために彫られました。最初の計画では40体以上の像がならぶはずでしたが、教皇の死や資金の問題で、計画は何度も小さくなりました。結局この像は墓には使われず、ローマの教会に完成した墓の中心には『モーセ』がすえられました。

The statue was made for the huge tomb of Pope Julius II. The first plan had more than 40 statues. But after the pope died, and because of money problems, the plan became smaller again and again. In the end, this statue was not used. When the tomb was finished in a church in Rome, the statue of Moses was placed at its center.

1546年ごろ、ミケランジェロは病気のときに世話になった友人ロベルト・ストロッツィに、この像と『反抗する奴隷』を贈りました。2体はその後フランス王に献上され、いくつかの城をへて、フランス革命中の1794年にルーヴルへ移されました。今もルーヴルの彫刻の展示室に、2体そろって展示されています。

Around 1546, Michelangelo gave this statue and the Rebellious Slave to his friend Roberto Strozzi, who had cared for him when he was ill. The two statues were later given to the King of France and passed through several castles. In 1794, during the French Revolution, they were moved to the Louvre. Today they are shown together in the Louvre's sculpture galleries.