In 1475, a boy was born in the family of a poor but noble Florentine nobleman Lodovico Buonarroti, who was to become the greatest sculptor in the history of mankind. The father "at the behest of higher powers" named the son of Michelangelo. The paintings and sculptures created by his hand are truly divine, as is his name.
The beginning of creativity
The boy spent most of his childhood in the village near the nurse, where he learned to work with clay and a chisel, which helped to reveal his exceptional abilities. Seeing this, Lodovico Buonarotti gave his son to the workshop of the artist Domenico Ghirlandaio for training, and a year later - to the famous sculptor Bertoldo di Giovanni. It is here that the work of young talent is noticed and appreciated by Lorenzo de Medici. He invites him to his palace. For three years, Michelangelo lives and works for Lorenzo the Magnificent, where he meets many painters and sculptors, as well as art lovers.
In Rome
Soon, his work begins to interest the highest spiritual ranks, and he is invited to Rome, where he fulfills the orders of Cardinal Rafael Riario, and then Pope Julius the Second, on behalf of whom Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for four years. According to the plan, it was supposed to be more than 300 works on biblical topics, and Michelangelo did it perfectly. These paintings became the most accurate reproductions of biblical stories: “The Creation of Heaven and Earth”, “Separation of Light from Darkness”, “Creation of Adam”, “Creation of Eve”, “The Fall”, “Flood”, etc. Despite the fact that by the nature of his talent Michelangelo Buonarroti was primarily a sculptor, nevertheless, his most ambitious ideas were realized precisely in painting. This is evidenced by the walls and ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Some paintings by Michelangelo with titles
The Last Judgment
This painting was commissioned by Pope Paul III for seven years (1534-1541). She became the most powerful mural in the history of world painting. Michelangelo painted it on a huge white altar wall. He was 60 years old, he was sick, weak, and it was very difficult for him to write it. Nevertheless, this was exactly what further glorified the name of Michelangelo for centuries. Paintings of this magnitude were usually painted by several masters at once, but an elderly artist did this work alone. Those who saw her once will never forget.
“The torment of St. Anthony”
Until 2008, this painting was considered a work of an unknown Italian artist, and only this year it was recognized as the work of Michelangelo Buonarroti. By the way, this is the earliest of his surviving creations.
Michelangelo's painting “The Creation of Adam”
The great painter painted this fresco in 1511. She is one of the nine central compositions depicted on the vault of the
Sistine Chapel, and is considered one of the best works of Michelangelo. The paintings adorning the ceiling, every single one, are simply magnificent. However, they are at a sufficient height, and in order to carefully study them, you need to throw your head back, which is not very convenient. Therefore, at the entrance to the chapel, and in many bookstores in Italy, you can buy an album of Michelangelo's works, including reproductions of the works of the great artist.