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Michelangelo was not only a painter, architect and sculptor but also a poet and engineer. Michelangelo versatility in various disciplines of life makes him an exemplary Renaissance man, with another Italian fellow Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo works are not significant by the quality only but more importantly the works were done, when Dark Age of Europe was not completely over and a handful of people were trying hard for renaissance in various fields of life.
Birth and Earlier Days
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born in Caprese on 6th march 1475.
Ludovico Buonarroti, Michelangelo father, was a local governor of small towns Chiusi and Caprese.
After the completion of term of Michelangelo father as a local governor, the family returned back to village Settignano where they had a farm. The village was near Florence and was surrounded with hills therefore Michelangelo was exposed to the art of stone carving in very little age. To attain the noble pretensions of the family, Michelangelo was sent to a Latin school but aspirations of the boy were different. Michelangelo didn’t like to be merchant or banker in Florence but found himself in love with art. Michelangelo birthday is celebrated one among the Famous birthdays in march, on that day birthday gifts, birthday cards, pictures of Michelangelo are distributed or supplied among the school children.
Career
That was the time when sculpture was considered as lowly occupation therefore father tried level best to shift the likings of Michelangelo. After the fight of wills Michelangelo father reluctantly sent him to Domenico Ghirlandaio who was a famous painter of Florence at that time. Michelangelo learned his lessons carefully in both the ways; fresco and tempera. The evidence of his good learning could easily be seen in the Doni Tondo and the Sistine ceiling. But Michelangelo was not willing to do more in painting hence he joined Bertoldo di Giovanni to learn sculpture.
Michelangelo grandmother was related to, great art supporters of the time, the Medici. By spending his time with Lorenzo de' Medici, Michelangelo learned to write and speak well. Also Michelangelo got positive approach to look towards the things of that time. Michelangelo gone through the works of various classical authors of ancient times and it was later seen in Michelangelo writings.
Accomplishments
In 1499, when he was just 24 years old, Michelangelo completed one of the best works of his lifetime, the Pieta. That is considered as, "a revelation of all the potentialities and force of the art of sculpture”. It is said that it was a miracle as perfect to challenge the creation of nature itself.
David, one of the greatest works of all times in marble, was being started by Michelangelo in 1501 and by 1504 Michelangelo could complete the work. Michelangelo made the figure of David to reflect the determination and power of Florence. This 4.34 meter high figure was placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio.
Other great works of Michelangelo include The Holy Family with the infant, St. John the Baptist (the Doni Tondo), Creation of the Sun and Moon, The Separation of Light from the Darkness, Delphes Sylphide, Sybille de Cummes and The Creation of Man.
Michelangelo died on 18th February 1564 in Rome but he would remain among us by Michelangelo valuable works and these works would give inspiration to coming generations. |
