Michelangelo - Sculptor

Michelangelo created some of the most magnificent works of art in Western history including "David," "Pieta," the "Last Judgment," and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He was considered one of the greatest painters of the Renaissance. He had an early career, and he owes it to Lorenzo de'Medici for seeing his career to come in the future. The boy-genius was brought into the Medici home at the age of 13 and was raised by future princes and pope. He met up with the Medici for the rest of his life, as he struggled to escape from their control.

Michelangelo's great talent was spotted at the age of only thirteen. He was one of the first in Lorenzo's original school of art. He learned to carve marble by copying the head of a satyr. Lorenzo was very impressed by the sculptures that Michelangelo created but still liked to tease him about his work. To guide and shape the young artist's career, Lorenzo invited him into his home. Michelangelo was introduced to the greatest artistic legacy in Florence. These influences stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Michelangelo's world was thrown into chaos with the death of Lorenzo. All the Medici boys were expelled from Florence, so Michelangelo went into hiding. But then he was brought back into Florence by a block of marble. Michelangelo undertook the enormous task of sculpting the 13-foot marble block, to try and outdo his rival Leonardo DaVinci. As he worked, water constantly showered down to keep the dust under control and to keep the sculptor cool. His technique was fascinating. He created a wax model of the design, submerged in water. Then, each day he would let the level drop, and using just the three chisels he had, he sculpted only what had emerged from the water. He worked alone on this statue for two and a half years. He rarely ate and slept periodically. He never changed his boots either, eventually causing the leather to fall off. On January 25, 1504, "David," his masterpiece, was introduced to the world. It was placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio. This outstanding statue of the proud and brave slayer of Goliath became a symbol of the city. But it also challenged the power of the Medici. By the end Michelangelo had turned his back on the Medici family. He was filled with fury and frustration. So he attempted to destroy his last work, the "Pieta" by hacking away at the left arm of Christ.

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