, 1875-10-02
MICHAEL ANGELO.

Cnrccr al tho t:rcat tArtlst-Celobratton A
Of the Four EEusadreLtta Anniversary
Of 9ltn Birth.
Tho Italian nation celebrated at Florence, on
tho 12tl, 18th, aud 14th inHt., tho fourth GEN.
tonary Of tho birth OF hliclIael Angelo. Ilts real
birthday wsa March G, and tho calculation NaY
to have boon held at that date, but, for Homo
rcasou, was postponed till six months lator.
Tho Cyclopedias placo hls birth In 1474, which Ia
according to tho Florentine reckoning at that
time; but 1475 is the proper year by the Roman
reckoning, now Ill genera! r1He.
Tho readers OF THE TRIBUNE will romember
that, In March last, VIC gave au elaborate &C.
count Of Tho lifo and works Of tho celebrated
Italian. We now present, from tho London
Times, an interesting sketch Of hs career In Its
connection with tho momentouB age OF tho TO-
naIesanco, Of wluch lo vas tho brightest artistic
luninary:
London Tin,es, Sept. 10.
II would bo difficult to eclcct more evonsful
period III tho whole range OF European history
than that which ia covered by Michael Angelo's
life. Born IN 1475. ho witnessed Ia his youth tho
sp!cndor' Of Loronzo the Magnificent, and wss
reared amidst the enthusiasm OF tho nonaia-
sauco and the new learning. The Rome he
knew WAS that Of Julius the Second, Of the
DorgiaB, and tho Medlcis, Of the almost Pagan
Popes Who woro patrons Of learning md art,
warriors and mon Of pleasure, e,-eysTythlug In
short, but the spiritual chiefs OF o faith whoao
4ingdum ia not of shls world. Yot Michael An
ge1o lived long enough to 500 the Catholic raao-
tion under tho ateru and fhnAtscal Carana,
and tho hopeless disruption OF Chslston-
dom by the achlsm Of tho northern uAtious,
henl. In Florence the changes he witnessed
were not less momentoua or significant. The
expulsion Of thu Medlcl, tho spiritual do,nlulon
Of HayonarolA and hls fato, tue triumph Of the
detanso ho himself bore 20 honorable and labor
ioua share. itA disgracofnl betrayal, aud Its
flnal subtsctton To tho family 8htch had onco
been proud to furnish It's olef citlzeuB, al! fell
Mtthiu TUG period ct MichaeI M Angeles prime.
cnslayod and humblea; he found Homo in tho
bloom Of the Pagan Renaissance, he eaw its
sack By tho Constable do Bourbon and
l.e lived to sec, the, prndery OF revived
which Ao had adorned tho 6istiue Chlpel in
his f1esco Of tic Last Judgment. Yet ia ali
this time Of tamult md distress, Michael Angelo
neyor forget Or NEGLECTED tho art to which be-
itasy. but uncomplaiu!aa, 10 wrought patiently
tho works tpttuated to him, always acrupulous
aud upright With hts employers, aud needless Of
his own gain. 1t " ditticuIt in those quiot tnea
ot settled ooyernmont ss and est4oished pursuits
tho sixteenth century. 1t IL not enough to say
that art was at that time to Italy what literature
IL DOW to n.odcEn Earope; for, though wo arc
not unfamiliar with the homage pAtl to great
Wrlters, yet it falls fur short OF tue lively and ve
hemaot recognition Of artistic merit which is
characteristic Of the Italians OF the ensiAsance.
Popos, aud princos, aud cities competed for the
seE1ice OF artists, and tho completion Of new
meet to 10 cslsbratsd by poets aud to kiadle a!
the enthuHiatm Of an inla laKinativa people. Hence