Michelangelo Biography

THEO 2000

Artist Paper

Michelangelo

        “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free” – Michelangelo. How can one define an artist? Is it even possible to put a single sentence as a description? It seems that the most prominent artists of all time see art while others see something as it is. In the quote above, Michelangelo sees the angel in the marble, while most others would simply see marble, maybe as potential to be a granite countertop. Most people look at a piano and they see a big box full of wooden sticks with pedals, while Ludwig van Beethoven saw a masterpiece of harmony waiting to happen. The story of Michelangelo will show us how he came about viewing, what most people see as objects, art, in its true form, and how he made an amazing connection theologically to send an incredible message to the world.

        Michelangelo was born March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Tuscany, just about an hour south of Florence. He was born into a family of smaller-scaled bankers, which unfortunately the business had failed when Michelangelo was still just a young boy. Luckily his father was able to take his skills into politics and take a governmental role with the town of Caprese, and a different administrative role in the little city of Chiusi. Unluckily, Michelangelo’s mother passed away when he was only 6 years old, forcing him to move in with a local family who owned and operated a farm. One of the other skills of the family was stonecutting, where Michelangelo began to learn what would be his amazing work, like the Madonna of the Stairs in 1492. “If there is some good in me, it is because I was born in the subtle atmosphere of your country of Arezzo. Along with the milk of my nurse I received the knack of handling chisel and hammer, with which I make my figures”. – Michelangelo

        Michelangelo was sent to Florence as a young boy to study grammar, while instead he found no interest in studies, and began copying and following the works of other painters. One of which was Giotto in the Branacci Chapel. One of the more influential to Michelangelo was Domenico Ghirlandaio, a professional in fresco painting, who had his own shop in Florence at the time. When Michelangelo was 13, he was first apprenticed to Ghirlandaio, and that following year, he was considered an artist at the age of 14, which was extremely rare in that time period. Ghirlandaio then sent him to Florence upon Medici’s request. To put things in perspective, it is quite incredible that a 12 year old boy knew what is life passion would be. Most people do not figure out an occupation to pursue until their late 20s or early 30s. The fact that Michelangelo found such an amazing talent and passion at such a young age is something to consider when we compare him to other artists of his time, and the history of the free world.