As a supporter of the Florentine Republic who designed and supervised the remodeling and construction of its fortifications, Michelangelo was a strong opponent of tyranny.

"During the Renaissance, with the Roman Empire seen as the beginning of the decadence of Rome, a veritable cult of Brutus developed", Michelangelo's biographer Charles de Tolnay writes.

[1] During the years following the capitulation of Florence, Michelangelo remained in contact with some of the former leaders of the Republic, men who championed the liberty of the city-state and opposed Medicean tyranny.

[1] The Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, where the sculpture is usually displayed, also dates the work to 1539–1540[5] Thomas Martin questions this date, which originates with Giorgio Vasari, noting that Brutus did not leave Michelangelo's workshop until about 1555, suggesting that the sculpture might have been crafted over a long period, and was perhaps commissioned to commemorate the death of Lorenzino de' Medici in 1548.

[7] The face of the sculpture is asymmetrical, with the side turned away from the spectator showing more signs of emotion, including a flared nostril.

According to de Tolnay: In the former (the fibula), the silhouette of the head is roundish; the forehead in relief shows movement; the outline of the nose is undulating; the line of the lips is soft; the chin is sharply rounded.