Michelangelo is one of the most famous artists in the western world, as has been the case since early on his career and will probably always be true. Born in the fifteenth century, he was a Florentine sculptor, painter, poet, architect and engineer who was prodigiously talented, an incredibly hard worker, devoted to his art to a fault and the true definition of a Renaissance man. His work is now scattered across the globe but Florence and Rome remain the best places to see his work – Rome nudging just ahead.
Whether you know a little or a lot about the man, his art should be seen at least once in a lifetime so why not find a holiday rental in Rome and tick seeing the magic of Michelangelo off your bucket list?
There are certain works that are must-sees, that are worth the lines and waiting. The Sistine Chapel, perhaps Michelangelo's most famous project, is one of these. It was completed under the patronage of three different popes and two bouts of painting over a total of ten years. Seeing himself as more of a sculptor than painter and intimidated by the scale of the job, Michelangelo initially tried to decline the work.
There are certain works that are must-sees, that are worth the lines and waiting. The Sistine Chapel, perhaps Michelangelo's most famous project, is one of these. It was completed under the patronage of three different popes and two bouts of painting over a total of ten years. Seeing himself as more of a sculptor than painter and intimidated by the scale of the job, Michelangelo initially tried to decline the work.
Eventually he was talked into project which would come to determine a large amount of his career and fame. The physical requirements of the job also hugely affected his health, though he lived well into his eighties. With scenes from both Old and New Testament, it is a complex and staggering scheme that is impossible to take in without intense study. This is one of those works of art that lives up to its name and continues to stagger audiences every single day.
Another of his most iconic works is the Pietá. Located in St Peter's Basilica, it was commissioned for the French cardinal, Jean de Bilhères, and made between 1498 and 1499. Made of the famous marble of Carrara, it depicts the dead Christ in his mother's arms. The Madonna is shown as youthful, though her son is 33, as was common practice at the time. Her adult child is draped across her lap in a bed of the swathes of her clothes in an impossible way. Though it is not immediately apparent, she would have to have been a giant to allow this position. Poignant and classically beautiful, it is a stunning work.
Finally, if you're interested in the artist but not impossible crowds, a lesser-known work is his Tomb of Pope Julius II in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli. The original plan was even grander than the imposing tomb that stands there today and it was commissioned in 1505 but was not completed until 1545 and long after the pope's death. It has multiple figures and is immediately impressive even if it was simplified.
These are only some of his works in Rome but highlights to pencil in for your next trip!
Photo credits
picture 5: LPLT / CC BY-SA 3.0
These are only some of his works in Rome but highlights to pencil in for your next trip!
Photo credits
picture 5: LPLT / CC BY-SA 3.0