Michelangelo Buonarroti (best known as Michelangelo; 1475 - 1564) was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet of the High Renaissance known for his frescos of Last Judgement and Genesis in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican in Rome and for his sculpture of David displayed in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence.
Michelangelo was born in Caprese in Tuscany and trained at the Medici palace in Florence under the Medici’s patronage. At the age of 29 he sculpted the statue of David and became of one of the greatest sculptors of all time. Later during his career his sculptures and paintings led to a rise of a new art movement called Mannerism, which was the last stage of Renaissance before the Baroque style took over.
David, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, Italy
Michelangelo’s David is probably the most known statue of our time. Michelangelo sculpted David at the age of 29. The sculpture is a perfect example of the Renaissance art taking inspiration from the classical antiquity.
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For many years David was placed outside in the front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence until it was moved to the Accademia Gallery in 1873.
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Pietà, St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy
Sometimes referred as the Rome Pietà because Michelangelo made several different sculptures that are called Pietà. A pietà, which means pity or compassion in English, depicts a scene in which the Virgin Mary mourns over the dead body of Jesus.
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Moses, San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome, Italy
Moses is the main sculpture at the centre of the Tomb of Pope Julius II. The design of the monument changed several times taking Michelangelo over 40 years to complete the tomb.
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Tomb of Pope Julius II, San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome, Italy
Michelangelo also sculpted statues of Rachel (bottom left) and Leah (bottom right). The statues at the top were made by other artists. Originally the tomb was supposed to include sculptures of the Rebellious and Dying Slaves (displayed in Louvre in Paris) and the Accademia slaves (displayed in Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence).
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Pietà, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy
Sometimes referred to as the Florentine Pietà. The face of Nicodemus, the hooded figure behind Christ, is believed to be a Michelangelo’s self-portrait. Notice that Christ is missing a left leg.
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Tomb of Giuliano de' Medici, with Night and Day, Medici Chapel, Florence, Italy
Giuliano de' Medici who was known as the Duke of Nemours was a brother of Pope Leo X. On his sarcophagus lie the statues of Night (left) and Day (right). Giuliano was assassinated at the age of 25 in the Florence Cathedral.
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Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici, with Dusk and Dawn, Medici Chapel, Florence, Italy
Lorenzo de' Medici who was known as the Duke of Urbino was a nephew of Pope Leo X. On his sarcophagus lie the statues of Dusk (left) and Dawn (right). Lorenzo ruled Florence from 1516 until his death in 1519. He died young at the age of 26.
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Rondanini Pietà, Castello Sforzesco, Milan, Italy
This is the last known sculpture that Michelangelo worked on before his death at the aged of 89. When compared to his other sculptures of pietà there is clear development in the artist’s style from Renaissance towards Mannerism.
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Bacchus, Bargello Museum (Museo del Bargello), Florence, Italy
Bacchus was one of the Michelangelo’s first major commissions. Bacchus, often referred to as Dionysus, was the god of wine, vegetation, madness, festivity and theatre in ancient Greek mythology.
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The Accademia Slaves - Bearded Slave, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy
The four statues of slaves displayed in the Accademia Gallery in Florence were originally supposed to be a part of the Tomb of Pope Julius II in San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome. However Michelangelo altered his original design several times.
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The Accademia Slaves - Young Slave, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy
The sculptures of the Rebellious and Dying Slaves were also supposedly in the original plan for the pope’s tomb. The Rebellious and Dying Slaves are much more known than the Accademia Slaves and are displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris in France.
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The Accademia Slaves - Awakening Slave, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy
In its unfinished form it is interesting to see what was the artist’s approach to sculpting.
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The Accademia Slaves - Atlas Slave, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy
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The Risen Christ, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
Sometimes referred to as Cristo della Minerva or Christ Carrying the Cross.
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Apollo - David, Bargello Museum (Museo del Bargello), Florence, Italy
The unfinished statue could be recognised as either David or Apollo. It depends on how one interprets what lies beneath the man’s right foot and what the man holds over his shoulder.
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Madonna and Child, Medici Chapel (Museo delle Cappelle Medicee), Florence, Italy
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Saint Matthew, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy
The statue was commissioned for the Florence Cathedral as one of the twelve statues that were supposed to be placed in the tribune of the cathedral. The tribune is the apse at the end of a cathedral or a church where the high altar or the bishop’s seat is placed.
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Palestrina Pietà, Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy
Palestrina Pietà is attributed to Michelangelo but this attribution has been disputed. It is possible that this statue was made by Bernini or by one of the Michelangelo’s or Bernini’s pupils.
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