Michelangelo’s Family Archives Are on Display in the U.S., Including Rarely Seen Drawings and Letters

Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, opened a new exhibition on October 9, 2026, featuring drawings, letters and poetry by Michelangelo. Some of the materials from the Renaissance artist’s family collection have never been displayed in the United States.

The exhibition is called Michelangelo’s Women: Images of Female Power and Divinity from the Casa Buonarroti and runs through January 24, 2027. The museum worked with Casa Buonarroti in Florence, Italy, to bring the pieces to its Jepson Center.

One of the works is Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child, a drawing made between 1522 and 1526 using red chalk, black chalk, lead white and brown ink wash. Visitors can also see a letter and sonnet he wrote to the Italian poet Vittoria Colonna.

The exhibition focuses on women in Michelangelo’s artwork and personal life. It also looks at the women who supported his work and helped preserve his family’s collection.

What Can Visitors See in the Exhibition?

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Works include a sketch of a woman’s head and a drawing based on an ancient statue of Venus. There’s also a handwritten madrigal from 1544 to 1546 and engravings made by Giorgio Ghisi after Michelangelo’s Last Judgment.

Some of the artwork is reproduced rather than original. Telfair has included reproductions of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment so visitors can get a closer look at the women Michelangelo depicted in both works.

The exhibition also introduces visitors to Vittoria Colonna, who lived from 1492 to 1547 and was a poet, patron, and friend of Michelangelo. Another woman featured is Rosina Vendramin, who lived from 1814 to 1856 and helped preserve the artist’s legacy. Gary Radke, a scholar of Renaissance art, served as guest curator for the exhibition.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit?

The exhibition is at the Jepson Center, located at 207 W. York St. in Savannah. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Mondays.

Adult admission is $30, while seniors ages 65 and older pay $27. Students ages 13 to 25 with a valid student ID pay $20, children ages 6 to 12 pay $10, and kids 5 and younger get in free.

Tickets also include admission to Telfair Academy and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. They’re valid for seven days from the date of purchase.

The museum is also holding a free family day on October 24 for residents of seven nearby Georgia and South Carolina counties. There will be art activities throughout the day, with music and drawing demonstrations from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can find tickets and additional information on the Telfair Museums website.