Michelangelo

Born around March 6, 1475, Michelangelo Buonarroti was the son of an official. At age 13, he became a pupil of the noted artists, the Ghirlandaio brothers, where he painted his first picture. By 15, his early sculptures attracted the attention of Lorenzo de Medici, leading him to live with Medici for two years and become acquainted with leading Renaissance artists and writers. In 1496, Michelangelo moved to Rome, and over the next five years, he created the magnificent Pietà for St. Peter's Church, depicting the dead Jesus in the arms of his mother Mary. This work established him as the foremost sculptor of his era. From 1501 to 1504, he carved the monumental David, the largest marble statue created in Italy since the Roman Empire, which showcased his mastery of human anatomy. In 1508, Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to decorate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. This immense painting, depicting various Biblical scenes, took over four years to complete, with Michelangelo working largely alone on scaffolding until 1512. Between 1536 and 1541, he returned to the Sistine Chapel to paint The Last Judgment on its altar wall. His final years were primarily dedicated to architecture; in 1546, he was appointed chief architect of St. Peter's Church in Rome, designing its iconic dome without compensation, viewing it as a religious duty. He also devoted time to poetry in his later years. Michelangelo was known for his frugal lifestyle and dedication, often sleeping near his unfinished works despite suffering from ailments like kidney stones and back pain. He experienced a severe stroke in 1561 but continued his projects. On February 14, 1564, he suffered another stroke and died on February 18, 1564, in Rome, Italy.