Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)

### Education

It was not extensive, as he left school when he was about 13 years old to begin training as a painter.

### Occupation

Artist of the High Renaissance who worked as a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet

### Family

Father: Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarroti di Simoni
Mother: Francesca Neri

Siblings: brother named Leonardo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

### Height

Estimated to be no more than 5 feet 2 inches tall (157 cm) based on the analysis of his personal belongings like footwear. This is a rather humble height for such a giant of art history. It is interesting to note that despite his short stature, Michelangelo chose a tall, slender piece of marble for his sculpture of David.

### Hair Color

Some depictions of Michelangelo in art show him with brown hair, but it is unclear whether these are accurate representations.

### Eye Color

Some sources describe his eyes as “fairly small, speckled bluish-yellow in colour”.

### Sexual Orientation

Michelangelo Buonarroti's sexual orientation is a topic of debate among scholars and historians. Some argue that Michelangelo was gay, while others suggest that he was celibate or asexual. Michelangelo's personal life is not well-documented, and there is no conclusive evidence to support either claim. However, some scholars point to Michelangelo's poetry, which contains homoerotic themes, as evidence of his homosexuality. Ultimately, Michelangelo's sexual orientation remains a matter of speculation, and it is impossible to know for certain.

### Best Known For

His work as a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance

## About

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. He was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Republic of Florence, and died on February 18, 1564, in Rome, Papal States. Michelangelo achieved fame early in his career, and two of his best-known works, the Pietà, and David, were sculpted before the age of thirty. Although he did not consider himself a painter, Michelangelo created two of the most influential frescoes in the history of Western art: the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and The Last Judgment on the altar wall of the chapel. Michelangelo worked for many wealthy and powerful patrons, including nine popes and members of the Medici family. He was the first artist recognized by contemporaries as a genius, and the only artist of whom it was claimed in his lifetime that he surpassed Antiquity. Michelangelo was a versatile artist who worked in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and architecture. He was also a writer of sonnets and had a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Michelangelo's works are characterized by their emotional intensity, anatomical accuracy, and technical skill. Some of his notable works include the Pietà, David, Moses, and The Last Judgment. Michelangelo's influence on Western art is immeasurable, and his works continue to inspire and captivate audiences today.

## Early Life and Education

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Italy, to a middle-class family. When he was still young, his family moved to Florence, where he grew up. Michelangelo was less interested in schooling than watching the painters at nearby churches and drawing what he saw. It may have been his grammar school friend, Francesco Granacci, who introduced him to the powerful Medici family, allowing him to study under the respected sculptor Bertoldo di Giovanni and exposing him to prominent poets, scholars, and learned humanists. This was a fertile time for Michelangelo, and his years with the family permitted him access to the social elite of Florence.

## Career

Michelangelo Buonarroti worked as a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet during his long career. He worked for many wealthy and powerful patrons, including nine popes and members of the Medici family. Some of his most famous works include the sculptures of David and the Pietà, as well as the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo achieved fame early in his career, and two of his best-known works, the Pietà, and David, were sculpted before the age of thirty. Although he did not consider himself a painter, Michelangelo created two of the most influential frescoes in the history of Western art: the scenes from Genesis on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

## Personal life

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Tuscany, Italy, to a middle-class family. He had a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and his surviving letters provide a view of a cross-section of Renaissance society in the first half of the 1500s. Michelangelo had few personal wants and was unusually self-denying in dress and diet. He was influenced by Savonarola's sermons, which he recalled even in his old age, to adopt this austerity of life. Michelangelo never married and had no children.

## Relationships

Michelangelo Buonarroti had relationships with many wealthy and powerful patrons, including nine popes and members of the Medici family. He formed mutually beneficial relationships with surrogate artists who would use his designs to create works of art. Michelangelo's relationship with Pope Julius II was stormy but led to the creation of some of his finest works. However, Michelangelo was known to have fractious relationships with his superiors. Despite having a large circle of friends and acquaintances, Michelangelo was described as being unable to make friends or maintain any relationship.

## Controversies

There are some controversies surrounding Michelangelo Buonarroti's art. One of the most famous controversies is related to the nudity of his sculpture of David, which caused outrage when it was first unveiled in the early 16th century. Another controversy is related to the psychological states of Michelangelo and how they may have influenced his art. Some scholars have suggested that Michelangelo's art reflects his inner turmoil and struggles with his sexuality and religious beliefs. However, these claims are not universally accepted and remain a topic of debate among art historians and psychologists. Despite these controversies, Michelangelo is widely recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time.

## Awards and legacy

Michelangelo Buonarroti achieved fame and wealth during his lifetime, and he is widely considered one of the greatest artists of all time. He had a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and his surviving letters provide a view of a cross-section of Renaissance society in the first half of the 1500s. Michelangelo's works, such as the marble statue called the Pietà and the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, are famous examples of artistic genius. He also produced a large body of verses based on his own experiences. Michelangelo's legacy has been unparalleled, and his influence on Western art continues to be celebrated and studied today. He was also awarded the Michelangelo Award, which represents the Moses sculpture, one of his most important works.