Michelangelo

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simone was born on March 6, 1475. He was born in Caprese, near Florence Italy. His father, originally a banker, had taken a job as a Judicial Administrator. When his mother died in 1481 Michelangelo lived with a nanny and her husband in Settignano, where he found a love for marble. Michelangelo was sent to Florence to go to Grammar School, but was more interested in doodling than in his classes. He preferred to hang out around artists, and eventually secured an apprenticeship with Domenico Ghirlandaio, who was a master in Fresco Painting, Perspective, Figure Drawing, and Portraiture.

Michelangelo's two most famous pieces, Pietà and the Statue of David, were completed between the years 1497 and 1504. Pietà was a sculpture made for the French ambassador to the Holy See, Cardinal Jean de Bilhères-Lagraulas. It depicted Mary morning over the body of Jesus, and was carved from marble. His other most famous piece, was surprisingly, not started by Michelangelo himself. It was an unfinished project from some 40 years before by Agostino di Duccio. Between the years 1505 and 1512 Michelangelo was commissioned to build the Pope's tomb and paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

After a great many more sculptures, paintings, and several poems, Michelangelo died on February 18, 1564. He died in Rome at the age of 88. As an interesting note, he was also the first western artist to have his biography written before he died, and not once but twice.