Michelangelo Buonarotti Paintings

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, commonly known as Michelangelo, was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, a small town in Tuscany, Italy. His family was from Florence, and they returned there shortly after his birth. Michelangelo's mother died when he was six, and his father, recognizing early signs of artistic talent in his son, placed him in the workshop of the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio when he was thirteen. After a year, Michelangelo began studying at the sculpture school in the Medici gardens and soon attracted the patronage of Lorenzo de' Medici, the ruler of Florence and a great patron of the arts. Under the Medici's patronage, Michelangelo gained access to the social elite of Florence, allowing him to study classical sculpture and literature, which had a profound influence on his work.

Michelangelo's talent was recognized early on, and he created two relief sculptures, the 'Battle of the Centaurs' and 'Madonna of the Stairs' by the time he was sixteen. However, it was his 'Pietà' (1498–1499) and 'David' (1501–1504), which established him as a master of high Renaissance sculpture. These works display a combination of psychological insight, physical realism, and intensity never before seen.

The artist's life was marked by a series of prestigious commissions, including the monumental paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, painted between 1508 and 1512. This Herculean task resulted in one of the greatest masterpieces of Western art, featuring the iconic 'Creation of Adam'. Michelangelo continued to work on the Sistine Chapel with 'The Last Judgment' on the altar wall, completed in 1541.

Michelangelo's architectural achievements include the design of the Laurentian Library and the Medici Chapel in Florence. He was also appointed the chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 1546. One of Michelangelo's most innovative designs for St. Peter's was the dome, which was completed after his death and influenced the development of Western architecture.

Michelangelo was a complex character, with a solitary nature, and his relationships with patrons and fellow artists were often strained. Nevertheless, his influence on the development of Western art is unrivaled. He was the first Western artist whose biography was published while he was alive—in two separate editions. In his lifetime, Michelangelo was often called Il Divino ('the divine one'), a reflection of his extraordinary talents.

He lived a long life for his era, and although his health was declining in his later years, he continued to work until shortly before his death. Michelangelo died on February 18, 1564, in Rome, at the age of 88. His body was taken back to Florence, where he was interred at the Basilica of Santa Croce, as was his wish. Michelangelo's legacy endures, and he remains one of the most studied and admired figures in the history of art.