Day 32 - Michelangelo

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, more commonly known as Michelangelo, lived from 1475 to 1564. He was an archetypal Renaissance man with great interest in architecture, poetry and engineering. He was also a mater painter and sculptor, although he felt that sculpture was superior and divine as it was like "creating man".  He debated this with Leonardo di Vinci, who felt painting was the best form of expression.


He is the best-documented artist of the 16th century because of the sheer volume of correspondence, sketches and completed work that has survived.  He completed his master pieces in sculpture, the Pietà and David, before the age of 30.  From 1534 to 1541 he produced two of the most influential frescoes in the history of art, even though he had a low opinion about painting. They were the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling and The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.  His exaggerated and elongated forms and dramatic compositions and perspective in these frescoes were highly revered and from this Mannerism was developed which lasted for the remainder of the 16th century.

Michelangelo's Pietà, was carved in 1499,
when the sculptor was 24 years old.

Michelangelo, David, 1504

Michelangelo, The Last Judgment,
Sistine Chapel (c. 1534-41)

Michelangelo, the Libyan Sybil,
Sistine Chapel (c. 1534-41)

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelos_David.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelos_David.jpg
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo