Abstract

This study explores the late architectural works of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1534–1564) through the lens of Neuro-phenomenology, reframing his subversion of Vitruvian principles as a deliberate form of Externalized Cognitive Scaffolding. While traditional art history often classifies Michelangelo’s late period as a retreat into idiosyncratic Mannerism, this research argues that his "logic of support" functions as a sophisticated psychological surrogate for the aging mind. Through qualitative analysis of the Staircase Tension in the Laurentian Library and the Cerebral Weight of the St. Peter’s Dome, the essay identifies a "Semiotics of Stability" designed to counter cognitive entropy. Central to this investigation is the Sforza Chapel, where "Enclosed Expansiveness" is achieved through diagonal column orientations. Utilizing Formalist Hermeneutics, the study interprets these structural choices as a mental "brace" for the observer, fostering a profound sense of structural security amidst complex, non-axial geometry. These findings suggest that Michelangelo’s late style constitutes a Unified Cognitive Exoskeleton, transmuting physical tension into a narrative of resilience, spiritual elevation, and cognitive longevity.

Keywords