Biography of Michelangelo, the great artist of the Renaissance

Michelangelo is a great master of the Renaissance, whose name is remembered along with Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and other Renaissance artists. Known in the first place as an unrivaled sculptor (a statue of David in Florence, etc.) and the author of the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. He worked in the field of architecture, he was an excellent poet.

The beginning of the way

Biography of Michelangelo di Ludovico Buonarroti Simoni begins March 6, 1457 in Caprese (now - Caprese-Michelangelo). His first teachers were masters Bertholdo di Giovanni and Ghirlandaio from the art school of Lorenzo de 'Medici. The aesthetic worldview of the future artist was formed under the influence of Donatello, Giotto, Jacopo della Quercia, whose creations he copied during his studies. The first independent sculptural works - "Madonna at the Stairs" and "Battle of the Centaurs" - are now represented in the Florentine Museum of Casa Buonarroti. In 1496 a young artist moved to Rome.

Confession

The biography of Michelangelo is not distinguished by a heavy struggle with circumstances: his unconditional talent was recognized immediately as his colleagues in the shop, and by the powers that be. By 1500, the artist is completing work on the sculptural composition "Pieta" ("Madonna mourning Christ"), commissioned for the Cathedral of St. Petra, and almost immediately there is an order from the Florentine government: a statue of David with a height of five and a half meters, designed to be located on the central square of the city. The work lasted five years. Thanks to this statue, Michelangelo has become famous worldwide. Currently, the original is in the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence.

The master receives another order from Julius II: a gravestone for the future papal burial vault. The composition was started in 1505, but continued only in 1513 (Julius II already died). Terms of the contract were reviewed many times, the work moved slowly. Only thirty years later the tombstone was established. From the first works in the composition came only the statue of Moses. Originally designed for the same purpose sculpture of slaves ("Dying" and "Risen") are now in the Louvre.

Creative maturity

1508 year. Biography of Michelangelo replenished with the following important episode: he was instructed to paint the vaults of the Sistine Chapel. On its walls and arches there were stories from Genesis and other books of the Old Testament, images of prophets.

Twenty years the master worked on the creation of an architectural and sculptural ensemble of the Medici Chapel. The work was repeatedly stopped both for lack of funds and because of force majeure circumstances: from 1527 to 1530 the Florentine revolt against the Medici continued, and Michelangelo directed the defense of the besieged city. The completion of the chapel was realized only in 1546, just then a sculptural group was established.

The biography of Michelangelo closely intertwined with the dramatic events of both secular and religious life of Italy. In 1534, the artist returned to Rome. This time is a difficult period for the Renaissance: church moods are becoming more active. Completed in 1541, the fresco "The Last Judgment" (the altar of the Sistine Chapel) reflects the confusion of the artist, a change in his worldview. From now on until the artist's death, his picturesque and sculptural works are full of tragic pathos.

The last project

Part of the authorship of Michelangelo belongs to the Cathedral of St. Petra is a grandiose structure that was built by several generations of architects. In 1546 Michelangelo was appointed head of the department. A brief biography of the artist mentions that originally in 326 the basilica was built here. In the 15th century it was modernized, but in the end Julius II ordered to build a new cathedral on this place. They led the construction in turn Bramante, Raphael, Sangallo, Peruzzi, Michelangelo, Porta, Vignola, Maderno, Bernini. Completion of construction dates back to 1667.

Michelangelo died as a result of a short illness on February 18, 1564 in Rome. His body was secretly taken to Florence and buried in the tomb of the Church of Santa Croce. There and to this day, visitors to the city can see the tomb of Michelangelo Buonarroti, whose biography inspired the creation of books by such artists as Romain Rolland, Irving Stone, as well as many connoisseurs of Renaissance art.