Michelangelo's Influence: The Renaissance

The Renaissance, the time period in European history following the Middle Ages, was a period of cultural and artistic renewal that began in Florence, Italy and spread across Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries. It was a revival of education, science, art, literature, and music. However, the Renaissance era is mostly famous for its art, which includes some of the most iconic and beautiful pieces of all time. The Renaissance was filled with incredible artists, with Michelangelo being remembered as one of the most famous artists of the period. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Italy to Leonardo di Buonarrota Simoni and Francesca Neri, but just a few months after his birth, the family moved

Michelangelo began work on the project off and on, but he became disgruntled when the pope’s priorities changed and the funds became more focused on military events. Michelangelo left Rome but then later returned in 1508 when Pope Julius II called him back for a less expensive, but still ambitious painting project: to depict the 12 apostles on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a most sacred part of the Vatican where new popes are elected and inaugurated. Michelangelo began the project and after four years, the original plan for 12 apostles developed into more than 300 figures and scenes from Genesis on the ceiling of the sacred space. Michelangelo did not use any assistants or apprentices and completed the 65-foot ceiling alone, spending endless hours on his back and guarding the project until revealing the finished work, on October 31, 1512. The most famous Sistine Chapel ceiling painting depicts the Creation of Adam, in which God and Adam outstretch their hands to one another. Although the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are probably the best known of his works today, Michelangelo thought of himself primarily as a sculptor. Michelangelo continued to sculpt and paint until his death, although he increasingly worked on architectural projects as he aged. In 1546, Michelangelo was appointed architect of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The process of replacing the Constantinian basilica of the 4th century had been underway for fifty years. Successive architects had worked on it, but little progress had been made, and Michelangelo was persuaded to take over the project. He developed an idea for a centrally planned church to strengthen the structure both physically and visually. The dome was not completed until after his death and has been called the “greatest creation of the