The Insecure Italian Artist

Born on March 6, 1475 and dying on February 18, 1564 of almost 90 years old Michelangelo was one of the best artists this world has ever seen.  Creating a lot of his pieces at a very young age.  His mother, Francesca Miniato del Sera, died when he was only 6 years old leave his father, Ladovico Buonarroti Simoni, alone with 4 other boys not including Michelangelo.  At age 7 Michelangelo went to school but often snuck away to draw.  He was so in love with art he fought his dad for years about it and when his dad finally gave in at age13 Michelangelo became an apprentice for the Ghirlandaio brothers, a very respected family of artists.  Michelangelo created some amazing pieces in his lifetime.  He was a sculptor, painter and a poet.  He started his poetry in an older age while sculpting at a younger age.  Some of his most famous pieces include Pieta, David and The Sistine Chapel ceiling.  Pieta is the sculpture he created at only 24 years old of Mary holding her dead son Jesus.  He was so young when he created this magnificent piece some people were saying it was another artist who created it. This made Michelangelo frustrated so late at night he snuck into the place he kept Pieta and carved his name into Mary’s sash.  The statue of David is probably one of his best known pieces world wide. He started this piece at age 26 and finished it at age 29.  This sculpture stands 17 feet tall and is of a completely naked David standing in a position symbolized the defense of civil liberties with his eyes facing the direction of Rome as a warning glare. They had an attachable leaf they would put on the statue when Queen Victoria would come visit. Another famous piece of his is the ceiling of the Sistine Capel.  Before this extraordinary painting he only did sculptures out of marble and when requested to paint the ceiling of the all time famous Sistine Chapel he refused and ran away.  The pope at the time sent people to search for him and bring him back.  After a while they found him and brought him back where he was forced to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  He spent 4 years on his back painting the ceiling.  He started painting at age 33 and finished at age 37. 
Although Michelangelo was never married he had a long term relationship with a woman named Vittoria Colonna.  She is known to be a muse for several of his pieces but it has never been proven that it is she was the inspiration for the pieces.  She died in 1547 when Michelangelo was 72, he spent the rest of his life alone.  My favorite pieces by him would have to be the Sistine Chapel and Pieta because when I went to Spain and Italy this last summer I got to see them in person and they are really amazing.