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Michelangelo

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Michelangelo was a master artist who lived during the High Renaissance.

600-artist-palette
600-artist-palette

He was a sculptor, a painter, an architect, and a poet. Many people called him "Il Divino," which means "the divine one."

Michelangelo Signature2
Michelangelo Signature2

His work was so powerful that it inspired a style called Mannerism. This movement focused on the expressive way bodies moved. His skill was so great that he was considered a true Renaissance man. This meant he was excellent at many different things.

To make his art, Michelangelo used many different tools and methods. As a boy, he learned to use a chisel and a hammer.

Taddei Tondo
Taddei Tondo

He used these to carve shapes out of hard marble. He also studied how the human body looks from the inside. He did this by studying anatomy.

'Dying Slave' Michelangelo JBU001
'Dying Slave' Michelangelo JBU001

For his paintings, he used a method called fresco. This is a way of painting directly onto a wall. He also designed large buildings like the Laurentian Library. His work changed how people thought about art and space.

Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475, in a town called Caprese.

Italy-3214 (5387296511)
Italy-3214 (5387296511)

His family were bankers in Florence, but the bank failed. He grew up in a place called Settignano. There, he lived with a stonecutter and learned to work with stone.

Michelangelo's Pieta 5450 cropncleaned edit
Michelangelo's Pieta 5450 cropncleaned edit

At age 13, he began an apprenticeship with the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio. This helped him learn how to draw and paint. By his 20s, he was already a famous artist in Rome and Florence.

Many of his most famous works were finished very early in his life.

'David' by Michelangelo Fir JBU005 denoised
'David' by Michelangelo Fir JBU005 denoised

He completed the massive statue of David in 1504. He also finished the Pietà, a sculpture of Mary, when he was only 24.

Michelangelo's Pieta 5450 cropncleaned edit
Michelangelo's Pieta 5450 cropncleaned edit

Later, he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He also painted a huge work called The Last Judgment on the altar wall.

Last Judgement by Michelangelo
Last Judgement by Michelangelo

At age 71, he became the architect for St. Peter's Basilica. He helped design its famous large dome.

Michelangelo's life connects to many famous people and places in history. He lived during a time of great change in Italy. He worked for powerful families like the Medici.

He was even a rival to the artist Leonardo da Vinci. His life is well-documented through his many sketches and letters. This helps us know a lot about how he worked. Even today, people travel to see his statues and paintings. His art remains a huge part of Western culture.

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🖼️ Images & Media (40)
File:Flag of Vatican City (2023–present).svg
Flag of Vatican City (2023–present).svg
File:Flag of the Vatican City.svg
Flag of the Vatican City.svg
File:Michelangelo Signature2.svg
Michelangelo Signature2.svg
File:600-artist-palette.svg
600-artist-palette.svg
File:Speaker Icon.svg
Speaker Icon.svg
File:WPVA-khamsa.svg
WPVA-khamsa.svg
File:Italy-3214 (5387296511).jpg
Italy-3214 (5387296511).jpg
File:Pietà Rondanini.jpg
Pietà Rondanini.jpg
File:Basílica de la Santa Cruz, Florencia, Italia, 2022-09-18, DD 110.jpg
Basílica de la Santa Cruz, Florencia,...
File:Last Judgement by Michelangelo.jpg
Last Judgement by Michelangelo.jpg
File:'David' by Michelangelo Fir JBU005 denoised.jpg
'David' by Michelangelo Fir JBU005 denoised.jpg
File:Autori vari, arca di san domenico, angelo reggicandelabro di michelangelo, 1494, 02.jpg
Autori vari, arca di san domenico, angelo...

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