tour 2 of 24
Michelangelo's drawings
Early years and the Republic
Michelangelo was the second of five sons, born
in March 1475 near Arezzo in Italy. His family was middle-class -
his father was a minor Florentine civil servant - but the family
had fallen on hard
times.
Michelangelo's
artistic career began at the age of twelve, despite his
family's disapproval because of the low status of artists
at the time. He was apprenticed to the successful Florentine artist
Domenico Ghirlandaio. Although later in life he claimed to be
entirely self-taught, Ghirlandaio's influence can be seen
in his work.
After leaving
Ghirlandaio's studio Michelangelo went to work for Lorenzo
the Magnificent, the ruler of Florence and head of the powerful
Medici family. Lorenzo spotted his gift as a sculptor and soon
Michelangelo was invited to join his household. Here he met two of
his most important future patrons: Giovanni de' Medici (the
future Pope Leo X) and his cousin Giulio, who became Pope Clement
VII.
When Lorenzo died in
1492, Michelangelo went on to serve his heir, Piero, whose control
of Florence only lasted two years. To avoid the political turmoil
surrounding the Medici's fall, the artist went to Rome,
where he made his name with the celebrated marble sculpture the
Pietà, now in St
Peter's basilica in the Vatican. He returned to Florence in
1501 and the next four years - during which he became a lifelong
supporter of Florentine republicanism - was one of the most
productive periods of his
life.
Illustration:
A youth beckoning; a right
leg by Michelangelo, drawn around
1504-05.