Michelangelo Renaissance
Self Portrait of Michelangelo Born in 1475 Died in 1564
Background-Early Life He was born near Tuscany, Italy. When he was born his mother was too ill to care for him so his father took him to a stonecutter’s wife who nursed him and cared for him. Michelangelo said that’s why he loved sculpting. Michelangelo was an architect, painter, poet and sculptor.
Nudity Nudity in art contains nakedness. It is not considered wrong. It is considered a symbol of innocence and beauty. It was also common in art at the time. It is not the same as today’s pornographic idea of nudity. Michelangelo was into nudity.
Statue of David He made his statues look very lifelike. Sometimes they were made smooth, other times left rough.
Moses This statue was at the tomb of Pope Julius. Notice the incredible power Michelangelo gives in a statue that is sitting still.
Pieta Michelangelo went to a school for sculptors when he was only 16. This sculpture was the first Michelangelo did in Florence. He was 24 and it was considered one of his most beautiful. It is the only one he ever signed.
How was it painted? Fresco painting: you apply plaster to the wall then paint on the plaster while it is wet. The painting then becomes part of the wall. This is how Michelangelo did the Sistine Chapel ceiling which is why it has stood for so many years. Pope Julius made (commissioned) Michelangelo paint the ceiling. It took him four years to complete the project.