Children's Web Magazine
Michelangelo
Michelangelo was a sculptor, painter, architect and even a poet during the Italian Renaissance. The Renaissance (which means rebirth) period was the revival of art and literature from the end of the 14th century to the 16th century. Earlier this year there was an exhibition of Michelangelo's drawings at the British Museum in London. One critic described it as "breathtaking". I went and was slightly nervous, could these drawings really live up to the hype? Yes, they were right it WAS breathtaking. I was completely blown away and in awe of this incredible talent. In my opinion Michelangelo was and is the greatest artist that has ever lived. He excelled in each of his talents, aware of his genius and that God had given him exceptional talents. What he achieved is even more amazing when you think that he was around in the 1500's and that he also lived till nearly eighty - nine years old, a feat in itself in those days. Michelangelo was born on 6th March 1475 in Caprese near Arezzo, Tuscany. He suffered the loss of his mother at the age of six her death made for an unhappy time. The family were poor, his father having been left to bring up five sons; he worked as a local official which was badly paid. Michelangelo had a love of the arts from an early age but his father didn't encourage him in fact he tried to do the opposite as he considered it a lowly profession. He eventually gave in to his sons burning desire to be an artist. Michelangelo became an apprentice to Domenico Ghirlandaio when he was just thirteen years - old, after two years he left. His talent was recognized by Lorenzo de' Medici of the Medici Palace and he went to work for them.
Michelangelo was to become fanatical about perfection. His study of the human anatomy would give him the ability to draw any movement or posture with ease, having studied the bones and whole structure of the human body. To accomplish this fully he dissected bodies.
He went to Rome to take up a commission to create a sculpture there. It was fortunate as he had to flee Florence because he had heard it could be facing a period of turmoil.
The commission was the sculpture Pieta it is made of marble and is of The Virgin Mary holding her son Jesus after his crucifixion. The sculpture is in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican; he completed it at the age of twenty - five. He missed Florence and when it was considered safe he went back and accepted the challenge of creating one of his most famous creations, that of David. It took him two and a half years to finish by then it was 1504. To transport it to its rightful home a special vehicle was built, for it was more than a hundred times the weight of a man and more than five metres high (17ft). David had to be moved to the Accademia Gallery in Florence in 1873 to protect it from the weather. A copy of David was made and placed in the original spot outside in the Piazza della Signoria in 1910.
When Pope Julius gave him some money to buy marble to create his tomb, instead of using the money for that he stole it and bought a farm for himself. At the age of thirty he had established himself as one of the greatest artists alive but he was also known as the most difficult. He had to return hastily to Florence the Vatican guards followed him but once he was in Florence they could not touch him as it was out of their jurisdiction. The pope who is unable to have him sent back is aware he is a temperamental genius and claims he will not harm if he returns. The pope would offer him a new commission instead of the tomb he wants him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel which is 20.70 metres high 40 .93 metres long by 13.41 metres wide. The Pope's adviser had suggested his name as he was certain he'd fail which would put him out of flavour with the Pope and make him look foolish. Michelangelo also had his doubts about it, thinking he wouldn't be able to paint it as he was really a sculptor. In his view a far superior art. But he had no alternative and he wanted to prove he could do it. Frescos were very hard to do and Michelangelo had not worked on any for twenty years. He even had to design his own scaffolding in 1508 to paint the ceiling. The preparation for the ceiling meant he first had to apply several layers of coarse plaster; the colour was then put onto a fine layer of damp plaster.
Michelangelo didn't like the Popes designs from the New Testament and he went back to the beginning of man
using Adam for as inspiration. It was vital to get the pigments right and he made sure he got the best quality available. He suffered delays and setbacks throughout the project. After painting a scene, mildew appeared this was because he had applied the plaster to wet. He had to start all over again. After two years the scaffolding had to be taken down so the Pope could see his work. Although this infuriated Michelangelo it did prove worthwhile as a few of the figures could hardly be seen from the floor. He would learn from this and make sure the rest were correct. The ceiling was revealed on 31st October 1512. The Pope liked it but wanted more colour and gold. Michelangelo was adamant though it was a true depiction of ordinary poor people and would not change it. Not afraid to speak his mind the thirty - seven year old artist accuses the Pope of knowing nothing about poverty. A few months later the Pope died and he began to work on his tomb but he failed to finish it, losing interest and then receiving a better commission. In his seventies Michelangelo did architectural work he was made architect of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and created the dome. It was finished thirty years after his death. Before he died on 18th February 1564 he destroyed any poems and drawings that he thought weren't of high enough quality. His genius and magnificent work however live on.
© Children's Web Magazine 2006