The Genius of Michelangelo: A Guided Study of the Renaissance
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born in 1475 in the Tuscan town of Caprese. His father, Lodovico Buonarroti, was a government administrator, but he did not approve of his son's interest in art. Despite this, Michelangelo was determined to pursue his passion and at the age of 13, he became an apprentice to Domenico Ghirlandaio, a prominent artist of the time.
Under Ghirlandaio's tutelage, Michelangelo learned the techniques of fresco painting and the art of drawing. He also became interested in sculpture, which would become his greatest passion. In 1489, Michelangelo was invited to study at the Medici palace in Florence, where he was exposed to the works of Donatello and other great artists of the time.
Michelangelo's early works were heavily influenced by classical art, particularly the sculptures of ancient Greece and Rome. He was also fascinated by the human form, and spent hours studying anatomy in order to make his sculptures as realistic as possible. Michelangelo's first major commission came in 1498, when he was asked to create a statue of the biblical hero David for the city of Florence. The resulting work, which stands over 17 feet tall, is widely considered to be one of the greatest works of Renaissance art.
By the time he was in his mid-20s, Michelangelo had become one of the most sought-after artists in Italy. He continued to work on commissions for wealthy patrons, including the powerful Medici family. He also began to develop his own unique style, which was characterized by a sense of drama and movement.
Despite his success, Michelangelo remained a solitary figure, often working alone for months on end. He was known for his temperamental nature and his tendency to be critical of his own work. Nevertheless, he continued to create some of the most iconic works of art in history, including the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Pietà , and the Last Judgment.
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