In 1920, Erwin Panofsky, one of the most influential art historians of the 20th century, submitted his habilitation thesis on Michelangelo. In following years, Panofsky developed the manuscript further, yet never published it. Following his emigration to the US in the early 1930s, it was considered lost, but was later rediscovered in Munich, and subsequently edited by Panofsky’s widow. This edition includes a facsimile of the original manuscript.