Early Life
Michelangelo was born near Florence in 1475. He showed a great interest in sculpting and closely studied the work of the great artist Donatello.
Michelangelo's Sculptures
Soon a cardinal commissioned him to sculpt the Pieta, which means sorrow. The Pieta is a white marble statue showing Mary holding the body of Jesus after he has been taken down from the cross. It is very detailed and realistic. It is held in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
In 1501 Michelangelo returned to Florence, where he won a competition to carve a single huge block of white marble. He created the statue of David. David is naked, with a slingshot resting over his shoulder and is extremely detailed.
The Sistine Chapel
In 1508, Michelangelo began to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, commissioned by Pope Julius II. It took him 4 years to paint this. The ceiling shows scenes from the Old Testament, from the creation of Adam to Noah's flood. He later painted The Last Judgement on the wall behind the altar in the Chapel.
His Later Life
Michelangelo spent the rest of his life in Rome. He died age 89 in 1564. His body was smuggled back to Florence, where he was placed in a tomb under the epitaph 'il Divino Michelangelo' which means the divine Michelangelo.