A Timeline of Michelangelo’s Life

1475The Birth

of a Genius

Artistic Education

1488

1498-1499Pietà

David1501-1504

1508-1512The

Sistine Chapel

Moses1513-1515

1520-1527Medici Chapel

The Last Judgement1537-1541

1564Michelangelo’s

Legacy

1470 1480 1490 1500 1510 1520 1530 1540 1550 1560 1570

1475 The Birth of a Genius

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born on 6th March 1475,near the city of Florence in Italy. The family moved to Florence soon afterhis birth.

Photo courtesy of bvi4092 (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Florence was at the centre of the Renaissance movement and Michelangelo was very influenced by the art around him.

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1488 Artistic Education

At the age of 13, Michelangelo becamean apprentice to Domenico Ghirlandaio,an artist who painted murals.

Michelangelo’s artistic talents weresoon noticed by Lorenzo deʹ Medici. Hewas a very important man in Florence,who was the leading patron of the artsat that time. Lorenzo invitedMichelangelo to live in his household.

Michelangelo learnt from the manyfriends of Lorenzo, who were artists,poets and writers.

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1498-1499Pietà

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In 1496, Michelangelo went to Romeand worked mainly in sculpture.

In 1498, he was commissioned byCardinal Jean Bilheres de Lagraulas tocreate a sculpture of the Virgin Marywith Jesus draped in her arms afterhis crucifixion. The statue was meantfor the cardinal’s tomb.

It is called Pietà, which means‘The Pity’.

Photo courtesy of bvi4092 (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

The sculpture is made from a single block of marble. It stands in StPeter’s Basilica in Rome. It is the only piece that Michelangelo signed.

Photo courtesy of Juan M Romero (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Click to see a larger image.

Photo courtesy of Juan M Romero (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

1501-1504 David

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Michelangelo was commissioned to makea sculpture for the cathedral of Florence.He created a statue of the young David.In the Bible, David went into battleagainst a giant called Goliath.

Michelangelo chose David because hewas heroic, strong, energetic andpowerful. It is on display at the Galleriadell’Accademia in Florence.

Photo courtesy of bvi4092 (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Photo courtesy of Jörg Bittner Unna (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attributionClick to see a larger image.

Photo courtesy of Jörg Bittner Unna (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

1508-1512The Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo was once againcommissioned to work in Rome. Hewas asked to create an elaboratefresco on the ceiling of the SistineChapel in the Vatican (the residenceof the Pope).

Michelangelo was asked to paint the12 disciples of Jesus; instead, hepainted a range of prophets and filledthe central area with scenes from theOld Testament.

Photo courtesy of Snowdog (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attributionClick to see a larger image.

Photo courtesy of Snowdog (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Scenes from the Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo had to lie on his backon specially-created scaffolding topaint the Sistine Chapel.

God and AdamOne of the most famous scenes from the Sistine Chapel is of God and Adam reaching out to one another.

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Have you seen this image used elsewhere?

1513-1515Moses

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In 1505, Michelangelo was invited to Romeby Pope Julius II. He commissioned him tomake his tomb. The was problematic asthere was not enough money for theproject. This led to disagreements betweenthe Pope and Michelangelo.

Michelangelo left Rome and he returned toFlorence; however, he continued to work onthe project. The tomb was never finished bythe time of the Pope’s death. Michelangelocreated a statue of Moses for it.

Michelangelo considered this as one of his greatest pieces of work. Photo courtesy of Alvesgaspar (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Click to see a larger image.

Photo courtesy of Alvesgaspar (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

1520-1527Medici Chapel

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During this period of time, Michelangelo worked on the Medici Chapel in Florence.

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Janecke (Rectifier99) (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attributionClick to see a larger image.

Medici Chapel, Florence

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Janecke (Rectifier99) (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

1537-1541The Last Judgement

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Michelangelo was invited back toRome to paint another fresco in theSistine Chapel.

This time, however, it was for thewall behind the great altar. Hepainted The Last Judgement, which ispart of the Book of Revelation inthe Bible.

It was very controversial at the timeas some people disapproved of howMichelangelo had painted the saints.

Click to see a larger image.Photo courtesy of Antoine Taveneaux (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Photo courtesy of Antoine Taveneaux (@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

1564Michelangelo’s Legacy

Michelangelo died on18th February 1564after a short illnessat the age of 88.

He painted some of the world’s largest and most

iconic frescoes and he sculpted amazing statues that still

fascinate people today.

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