Michelangelo Buonarroti's Life And Attitude
Uploaded by spootyhead on Mar 19, 2007
Michelangelo Buonarroti's Life And Attitude
Renaissance artists expressed their ideas through various approaches and unique styles. To a certain degree, great works can be analyzed and depicted to reveal attitudes that its creators held toward life’s character. Michelangelo Buonarroti, creator of masterpieces such as David and the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, is a great figure of the Renaissance worth studying. His character and influences in his life contribute to the changing moods depicted in his artwork and writings. “He worked during three quarters of a century of tremendous change in European Society, and as an artist was supremely responsive to the hopes, fears, and values of his culture, which he both exemplified and defied” (George Bull, Michelangelo: A Biography [New York, 1995] front flap). Throughout the course of Michelangelo’s life as an artist, the evident changes observed in his works between his novice and aging years reflected the transformation that took place in his mind.
Michelangelo’s “three fathers” played major roles in the guidance of his artistic achievements as well as personal developments. First, Lorenzo de’ Medici gave Michelangelo a challenging setting in his adolescence. Second, his biological father was very close to him and affected him especially after Lorenzo’s death. Third, Pope Julius II became his greatest patron. He commissioned Michelangelo with pay to work on projects such as the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel and his own tomb. “They affected Michelangelo in distinctive ways, but all three were crucial for the fulfillment of Michelangelo’s mission as it unfolded during those eventful years” (James Beck, Three Worlds of Michelangelo [New York, 1999] xvi).
Like every other, Michelangelo was born in equality to every human being. He was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Tuscany and had always considered himself a “son of Florence” (http://www.michelangelo.com/buon/bio.html [Online/Internet, 18 October, 2000] Early Life 1). His birth mother, Francesca Neri, died young of sickness when he was only 6 years old (Howard Hibbard, Michelangelo: Second Edition [New York, 1974] 15). During his years in grammar school, his father was outraged at his idea to become an artist. “Michelangelo’s childhood had been grim and lacking in affection, and he was always to retain a taciturn disposition.” He was known for having a quick temper and keeping to himself (Early Life...