Michelangelo – What role did he play in society Michelangelo – What role did he play in society? (1475-1564) Italian painter and sculptor, e.g., David, 1504; Sistine Chapel, 1508-1512.
Early Life Born March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Italy. His father saw lucky stars in the sky and thought his son would have heavenly powers. Named Michelangelo - angelo in Italian means angel. Went to school to become a scholar - but was interested in sketching and painting. His father and uncles were angry - they thought art was a job for peasants.
They cruelly tried to change his mind. Finally at age 13, his father agreed to let him study with Domenico Ghirlandaio, a popular Florence painter. In Florence, M studied art of the old masters. He learned to paint frescoes (paintings done on wet plaster walls). Highly skilled; egoistical. Hot tempered and outspoken.
Life as an Artist Age 16 - sent to study sculpture under Bertoldo de Giovanni. M fell in love with the size and power of the Greek style of sculpture. Obsessed with creating the perfect human form in marble. Studied anatomy (he secretly cut up dead bodies to see how the body looked and moved).
Pietà Pieta refers to a type of image in which Mary supports the dead Christ across her knees. Located in St. Peter’s Cathedral.
David Warrior statue portrays the Biblical King David in the nude, at the moment that he decides to battle with Goliath. Made of marble - started in 1501 and completed in 1504. Reflected the power and determination of Republican Florence.
Design of Pope Julius II tomb At age 30, M was asked to design the Pope’s tomb. It took 40 years to construct the tomb. It was so large that a church had to be constructed around it - St. Peter’s Basilica.
Sistine Chapel Started painting the ceiling of the chapel in 1508 and finished in 1512. It measures 40 feet by 130 feet - 60 feet above the ground. Exterior of Chapel
Problems - How do you paint a ceiling 60 feet high? A scaffold was built that was suspended from the ceiling from ropes. M saw it and thought it was bad - M knew that when the scaffolding was removed, it would leave holes in the ceiling and ruin the painting. M came up with solution: flat wooden platform on brackets built out from the wall, high up near the top of the windows. A series of zigzag ladders allowing getting up and down from the platform. Lies on back and paints the ceiling.
Modern Renovations of the Sistine Chapel - 1994
Ready to paint? M sends for artists in Florence to assist him in this huge job. But he found their quality of work to be lacking and locked them out of the chapel and refused to let them back in. He continues work on ceiling allowing workers to carry materials and equipment up the ladders (lime, sand, and water for plaster; trowels for applying it; brushes, paint, and paint pots)
Scenes from the Ceiling Ancestors from Jesus. Stories from Noah Creation and downfall of Adam and Eve. The Creation. God creates Adam.
Before and After the Restoration Controversy - cleaning too severe. Technique - was questionable. Started in 1984 - finished in 1994. Before After
End of Life It was said that when M was 60, he could carve faster than three sculptors. Lived to be 89 - worked right up until his death in Rome. Died Feb 18, 1564 (weakened fever).
Great Quotes from Michelangelo
“My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness.”
“A man paints with his brains and not with his hands.”
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
seem so wonderful at all.” “If people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all.”
“Genius is eternal patience.”