Which fellow artist broke Michelangelo's nose in a youthful fight?

Which fellow artist broke Michelangelo's nose in a youthful fight? Pietro Torrigiano did. The incident reportedly occurred when the two young artists were studying and copying Masaccio's frescoes in Florence's Carmine church, now associated with the Brancacci Chapel.

Accounts by Giorgio Vasari and Benvenuto Cellini differ slightly over the provocation. Vasari emphasized Torrigiano's jealousy of Michelangelo's rising reputation, while Cellini recorded Torrigiano's claim that Michelangelo's mocking remarks enraged him. Both accounts agree on the result: a punch crushed Michelangelo's nose and left it visibly crooked for life.

The story became part of Michelangelo's legend because his distinctive nose is recognizable in portraits and self-portraits. Torrigiano was not merely an obscure brawler: he became a significant Renaissance sculptor, worked in several countries, and helped introduce Italian Renaissance styles to England. The assault allegedly brought official punishment or exile from Florence, though the exact legal details are uncertain.