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Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Michelangelo is born on 6 March 1475 in the Italian region of Tuscany. Although born in the small village of Caprese, Michelangelo will always be associated with Florence. He is raised in a family of stonecutters in Florence, and so he gets to know about stone cutting and art.

Michelangelo's father wants him to become a merchant, but to the father's discontent, Michelangelo takes an apprenticeship in Domenico Ghirlandaio's workshop. After studying the art of fresco, he is invited to the famous Medici family, whose connections will prove valuable later in his life. As a teenager, Michelangelo studies anatomy and produces relief sculptures.

The 1490's are turbulent years in Florence. The city is taken by the French and also suffers from internal struggle. Michelangelo spends these years in Rome, and produces several sculptures, among them a Bacchus statue and the world famous marble Pietà in Saint Peter's basilica. When he hears that another artist is given credit for the Pietà, he carves his name in great fury over the breast of Mary. This is the only oeuvre that he ever signs.

In 1501, Michelangelo returns to Florence as a famous man. In 1504 he completes the great David statue, which idealises the courage of the Florentines. During the following years, Michelangelo produces many famous sculptures and paintings.

In April 1508, Michelangelo is sent to Rome by the pope Julius II to paint the apostles on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It turns out to be a gigantic project. In 1512, he has painted more than 300 life-size figures. He continued with carving, and over the years produces statues and the tombs for Julius II and for the Medici family.

In the 1530's, he leaves Florence forever and moves to Rome, where he workes for the popes. Most important from this time is the largest fresco of the Renaissance, The Last Judgement (completed in 1541). Another, perhaps even more important achievement from this time is the completion of Saint Peter's Basilica.

Michelangelo works hard, and his work on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel has damaged his health. He also has a furious temper, and is usually in a generally bad shape. After a fever in 1564 — the same year as Shakespeare is born — Michelangelo dies on February 18, now a famous genius. The same year one of the world's finest artists dies, another one is born.

There are several good web sites partially devoted to Michelangelo. One of them is http://sunsite.dk/cgfa/michelan/index.html.

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