MichelangeloLife of a renaissance artist

Who was Michelangelo ?

NO – he was a famous painter and sculptor from 1600’s

What is he famous for ? • -born in Tuscany (1475), his father was a

government official, his mother died when he was only 7

• -as a thirteen year old, was apprenticed to the busy workshop of the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio. In this workshop he mastered the techniques of fresco painting and of draughtsman ship. Michelangelo became increasingly interested in the human form and studied anatomy, dissected bodies and drew from live models all in his quest to master the complexities of posture and movement.( this was against church teachings to dissect a body)

He did many marble sculptures such as David, and Mary carrying Jesus’ body

Famous paintings• The Sistine Chapel.

• A chapel in the Vatican had been built by Pope Sixtus IV, and is therefore called the Sistine Chapel, this was the next great commission given to Michelangelo. The walls had been decorated by famous painters of the past and the pope wanted the vault of the chamber painted to complete the decoration of the chapel. This work, lasting for four years, was completed with the artist having to lie on his back and paint looking upwards. The work contains over 300 figures and centres on the Book of Genesis, it remains one of the finest examples of one man's physical, intellectual and artistic achievement.

CeilingEach picture has a Biblical scene from creation to Judgment day

The devil carrying a sinner to HellMichelangelo often used faces of friends and enemies in his work. He

portrays Satan as his rival, and often does unflattering pictures.

Rumor says he laid on his back• Did Michelangelo Really Paint Lying on His Back?

• No. Charlton Heston did in the movie, but the real Michelangelo didn't lay on his back to paint the ceiling. He conceived and had constructed a unique scaffolding system. It was sturdy enough to hold workers and materials, but began high up the walls of the chapel in order that Mass might still be celebrated below.

• The scaffolding curved at its top, mimicking the curvature of the ceiling's vault. Michelangelo often had to bend backwards and paint over his head - an awkward position which must've made his neck and back ache, his arms burn painfully and, according to him, permanently screwed up his vision. But he wasn't lying flat on his back.

Your turn

• A paper is taped to the underside of your desk. • Gather your pencils, crayons, markers or pencil

crayons, whichever you prefer…• Crawl under the table and lay on your back to

work on your “masterpiece”. • Be sure to cover your whole page.

• How does it feel to be Michelangelo ? Are your arms sore ?