Art

Michelangelo Buonarotti

orn in 1475, and after his mother died when he was 6 years of age, Buonarotti traveled to Florence at the age of 10. In 1488, at age 13, he became an apprentice in the workshop of Domenique Ghirlandaio, after which he joined the School of Sculpture in Medici Gardens under the tutorship of one of Donatello's pupils, Bertoldo di Giovanni. Here Buonarotti studied old Greek and Roman marbles and was heard the teachings of Ficino in Lorenzo de Medici's palace. Most of Buonarotti's life was spent in either Florence or Rome. In 1535 , at age 60, Michelangelo Buonarotti left Florence for Rome.

He is considered the greatest artist of the Renaissance period, and his painting skill ranks amongst that of Leónardo da Vinci and Raphael. Characteristics of his work include massive, muscular, sculpturesquely painted bodies due to his preference for sculpture. His greatest works include the magnificent frescoes on the Sixtine Chapel ceiling (which took 4 and a half years to complete)and The Last Judgement behind the chapel's altar. Michelangelo developed a unique painting technique, namely sfumato. His sculpture David is seen as one of the greatest sculptures .The sculpture is approximately 5 meters high, and is famed for its perfect human body and the skill with which Buonarotti portrayed virile, youthful confidence. The spirit of the Renaissance is captured in this sculpture's essence.

Other works, including 2 works of Dying Slaves and 3 Pieta sculptures have commanded him a lot of fame, as well as the 2 figs for the tombs of Julius II and the Medicis. The Pieta sculpture in St. Peter's is well-known for its stark contrasts and flowing drapery. Another well-known sculpture of Buonarotti's Moses, which shows a brooding, angry face. Later on, Buonarotti's style changed to a Manneristic one, and this is evident in the elongated forms in his Dying Slave sculpture and the Rondanini Pieta.

Michelangelo after the death of Bramante, took over the design for St. Peter's dome, making a double shell for lightness to better support the cathedral dome's weight.

Michelangelo Buonarotti died at age 89 in 1564.