Famous Renaissance Figures

Early Life:

 

Michelangelo was born on 6 March 1475 in Caprese near Arezzo, Tuscany. Know Caprese is called Caprese Michelangelo for several generations, his family had been small-scale bankers in Florence, the bank had failed and his father, Ludovico di Leonardo Buonarroti Simoni, briefly took a government post in Caprese, where Michelangelo was born. At the time of Michelangelo's birth, his father was the judicial administrator of the small town of Caprese and local administrator of Chiusi. Michelangelo's mother was Francesca di Neri Del Miniato di Siena (this was at the time that Michelangelo was born). A couple of months after Michelangelo’s birth his whole family and he moved to Florence. After 2 years Michelangelo’s mom attracted a disease no one knew what it was. So without treatment she died in 1481 when Michelangelo was six.

 

Personal Life:

 

Michelangelo was a humble and independent man. In 1538 three years before completing the last judgment, one of his greatest paintings, he met a poet and theologian whose name was Vittoria Colonna. Even though she was widowed she and Michelangelo had a passionate relationship for more than ten years. Eventually they were married but they did not have kids in their lifetime. He had no other relationships before the one with Vittoria. Vittoria died after Michelangelo did.

 

Accomplishments:

 

Obviously Michelangelo’s greatest accomplishment was David he was being made since 1501-1504.David was made in the east end of Florence Cathedral, it was placed inside a public square.David was 5.17 meters long and made of marble. The finished product was shown to everyone on december 8 1548

 

 

Another one of Michelangelo’s major accomplishments was the last judgment (Final Judgment)The work took four years to complete and was done between 1536 and 1541 and the alter wall was made in 1535. Michelangelo began working on this painting twenty five years after finishing the Sistine Chapel ceiling. This was a very complex painting and has lots of historical figures in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions:

 

What was the first major painting you did?

 

My first major painting was called the Tournament of Saint Anthony. I painted it when I was twelve.

 

Who inspired you to become an artist?

 

Giovanni made a huge influence on my art and I have looked up to them.

 

What message do you try to send with your art?

 

I try to show that god is real and that he influences us a lot. When that is not the message I just paint paintings of others.

 

Do you target certain people with your art?

 

No but I do art for other people for money.

 

Why did you do the David sculpture?

 

As most of you know I have a lot of sculptures of naked men, but I chose to sculpt David because he shows his youth, strength and his beauty.

 

Do you look at Leonardo Di Vinci as an idol?

 

No I haven’t because I really didn’t pay much attention to him because I did not find a lot of interest in his art.

 

World ViewElements:

 

Economy - Michelangelo made paintings for rich people because he wanted more money and a higher social status.

 

Geography - Michelangelo had traveled all around Italy painting different landscapes.

 

Society - Michelangelo’s paintings expressed things that were looked down upon, for example nudity.

 

Time - Michelangelo had been painting for a long time and the more time passed the more techniques were made by him, we still use these techniques today.

 

Values - Michelangelo valued the male human body; he thought it showed beauty and strength through his art.

 

Beliefs - Michelangelo believed that god is real and that he influences most of the stuff we do in life.Knowledge - Michelangelo believed that studying and analyzing the human body (anatomy) was necessary since it would increase knowledge about medicine, perspective and point of view.

 

 

Bibliography:

 

Authors- Anonymous, updated December, 3, 2013. A&E Networks Televisionhttp://www.biography.com/people/michelangelo-9407628?page=4

 

Authors- Anonymous, updated October, 8, 2012. The Complete works. http://www.michelangelo-gallery.org/biography.html

 

Author- group of anonymous people, updated Feb, 27, 2013 BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/michelangelo.shtml