Michelangelo

Michelangelo was an Italian artist who lived from 1475 to 1564. His full name was Michelangelo Buonarroti. He was born in Caprese, a small town in Italy, and grew up mainly in Florence. Michelangelo worked as a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet. He lived during the Renaissance, a period in European history marked by renewed study of art, learning, and the ancient past.

Michelangelo first trained as a sculptor. Sculpture is the art of shaping stone or other materials into figures. He learned to carve marble, a hard white stone. One of his early famous sculptures is David. It shows a human figure carved from a single block of marble. Michelangelo studied the human body closely. He observed muscles and bones to make his figures look natural and detailed.

Michelangelo also worked as a painter. One of his most important painting projects was the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. A chapel is a small church or place for worship. The Sistine Chapel ceiling shows many scenes painted over several years. These scenes include stories from the Bible, such as the creation of the world. Michelangelo painted while standing on scaffolding, which is a temporary wooden structure used for working at high places.

Later in his life, Michelangelo became an architect. Architecture is the design of buildings. He worked on major buildings in Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica. A basilica is a large and important church. Michelangelo helped design the great dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. His work influenced how later buildings were planned and built.

Michelangelo worked for several powerful leaders, including popes in Rome. A pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. These leaders asked him to create art for churches and public spaces. Michelangelo spent many years in Rome and Florence. He continued working into old age, often focusing on sculpture and architecture.

Michelangelo died in 1564 at the age of 88. He left behind many artworks, drawings, and buildings. His work shows careful study of the human body and strong use of form and space. Michelangelo is remembered as one of the main figures of the Renaissance because of the range and size of his work.