Michelangelo
Michelangelo, an Italian, was born on 6 March 1475 and died on 18
February 1564 at 88 years old. He is best known for his sculpting, iconic
depictions of paintings, architecture and being a poet of the High
Renaissance. He together with his rival, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael
led the High Renaissance- an artistic style practiced during a short period
in the 16th century which produced exceptional artistic works in the
Italian states. His hometown was in Florence, but he was forced to move
to other Italian cities because of the powerful Medici family and other
artists problems, but he eventually settled back in Florence.
Throughout Michelangelo life, he was subjected to shamefulness,
embarrassment, personality issues, insecurity with his body and
sexuality. This primarily came from his family, especially from his
irresponsible father, and it affected his relationships with women. His
humility was often taken for granted by his father as well, and he was later forced to aid him financially
as he grew as an exceptional artist
Influences
Michelangelo, ignored his education to pursue drawing
At 13 years old, after overcoming his father’s objections, he was to be an apprentice for 3 years to
Domenico Ghirlandaio - Florence’s most prominent painter at the time, but he left after one year
because of having nothing more learn. His talent did not go unnoticed by several famous at the time and
soon enough, he was taken under the wing of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the Magnificent.
Lorenzo had access to intellectuals, and the Medici art collection- a collection of superb scientific
instruments
In his later life, he focused more on architecture and poetry, partly because of the changing religious
climate when the Catholic Church begam its own reform and it affects how he could show his art