This narrative on Michelangelo and his famous Renaissance art is among the most
comprehensive on the Web. It details the story of Michelangelo's life followed by
specific discussions on his famous Renaissance paintings depicting the Story of Genesis on
the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
The Life of Michelangelo
Michelangelo Buonarroti was born to Ludovico di Leonardo Buonarroti Simoni and his
wife, Francesca Neri, on March 6, 1475 in Caprese in Casentino. He came from a respectful
family, 2nd born of three brothers. His family had connections with the ruling Medici
Family. His mother was frail and sick and could not nurse Michelangelo, and so he was
placed with a wet nurse of a stone cutting family.
At the age of six, Michelangelo's mother passed away and the family moved to
Settignano. Around the age of 12, Michelangelo attended grammar school, which was
run by Francesca da Urbino. After his brief education, he was enrolled as an apprentice
for Domenico Ghirlandaia.
Michelangelo’s first relief sculpture was of a battle done at age 16. This battle,
the Battle of Centaurs demonstrated the talent developing in this young man. He then
created the Madonna of the Stairs, which confirmed his talent. In this work, he began to
show movement and force.
Michelangelo began to travel. He lived in Rome for 5 years from 1496 to 1501, where he
carved a marble statue of Bacchus. Michelangelo also carved a statue of Mary with the dead
Jesus lying across her lap. This piece, the Pieta, was created at age 23. This statue is
bigger than life size and is now being shown in St. Peter’s Church in Rome.
After returning to Florence, Michelangelo produced the magnificent David, manly and
athletic looking, projecting heroic courage.
Michelangelo met Leonardo da Vinci in Florence in between the year 1501 and 1505.
Together, they created the masterpiece of the large battle scenes for the walls of the
city hall. From then on, Michelangelo only made large size projects. He began work on
statues of marble for Pope Julius II’s Tomb.
Before finishing his work on the tomb, Michelangelo was commissioned the project of
painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. In these panels, he
illustrated the Story of Genesis with Scenes of God creating the world, the story of Adam
of Eve, the story of Noah and the great flood. He completed these works in four short
years, 1508-1512. He then returned to his work on the tomb for Pope Julius II,
ultimately making statues of Moses and two prisoners and 37 other beautifully sculpted
masterpieces.
Michelangelo spent from the years 1515 to 1534 working on the Medici Chapel. He made
two statues of Princes as well as figures of Dawn and Evening. He also designed the
blueprints of the Chapel. This was his first Architectural project.
Pope Paul III asked Michelangelo to continue painting the walls of the Sistine Chapel.
In this painting, he showed the Resurrection and judgment of humanity.
Later, Michelangelo created another Pieta, for himself. Michelangelo died
of old age on February 18th, 1564. The body of the dead artist was deposited in a
sarcophagus in the church of Santi Apostoli, but a few days after the burial his nephew,
Lionardo Buonarroti, who had arrived in Rome, took possession of his uncle's property and
carried off the corpse, concealed in a bale. Upon reaching Florence, the mortal
remains of the "divine artist" were taken to Santa Croce, where they remain
until this day.