Michelangelo Buonarroti was one of the geniuses of the Italian Renaissance, creator of works of immense artistic value, such as La "Pietà"(1497-1499), the"David"(1501-1504), the"Mosè"(1513-1515) or the marvelous frescoes of Sistine Chapel (1508-1512). Excellent sculptor, he just needed to create "remove the superfluous from the marble block”, Michelangelo also distinguished himself in painting and poetry. Also known for his impetuous character, given by a difficult childhood, Michelangelo knew how to channel all his genius and creativity into art (especially sculptural). On the occasion of the 547 anniversary of the birth of the artist, we offer you some curiosity about Michelangelo, which perhaps not everyone knows.

Milk and marble powder

Michelangelo always had one predilection for sculpture, compared to painting (despite excelling in both arts). The reason for this is related to his childhood. The Florentine artist was born in the town of Caprese (mozzarella cheese, tomato, basil) (Arezzo) where his father, now in poverty, held the position of mayor. At the end of the mandate (lasting one year), the Buonarroti family returned to the house of Settignano (Florence). Here the little Michelangelo was entrusted to the care of one nanny, wife of one stonemason. Settignano was in fact famous for being the city ​​of stonemasons, since the serene stone. This environment marked the very young Michelangelo, who, to explain his love for sculpture, used to say that he was born in the land of the stonemasons and for this he was nursed by the nurse with "milk and marble powder".

Curiosities about Michelangelo: the broken nose

Michelangelo was as brilliant as he was restless e proud. The Florentine sculptor and painter had in fact a strong personality and a rather irascible character. In 1490, when he attended the Garden of San Marco, under the wing of Lorenzo the Magnificent, quarreled with the sculptor Peter Torrigiano, during an inspection of the Brancacci chapel. Michelangelo received a straight punch on the nose from rival. As a result, the Florentine artist remained disfigured in the face throughout his life.

Curiosities about Michelangelo - Pietà

Michelangelo's signature on the "Pietà"

The "Pietà”Is one of Michelangelo's masterpieces. It was done between the 1497 and the 1499, on commission from the cardinal Jean de Bilhères and intended for the chapel of Saint Petronilla. Michelangelo at that time was just over twenty years old. One of the curiosities about Michelangelo concerns the company that the artist inserted on the band of the Virgin's dress. The Pietà is in fact the only work in which the signature is visible: "MICHAEL.A [N] GELVS BONAROTVS FLORENT [INVS] FACIEBAT", Or" Michelangelo Buonarroti made it ". The artist decided to affix his signature because at the time it was rumored that the work had been created by the Lombard sculptor Christopher Solari. In this way Michelangelo wanted to silence every rumor about the work.

Curiosities about Michelangelo: the genesis of the Sistine Chapel

His proud character also caused him many problems during his career. An example is the continues quarrels with Pope Julius II during the making of frescoes in the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512). The one with the warrior pope, also with a very strong character, was in fact a relationship of "love Hate". In fact, Michelangelo did not want the pope to see his work. Whenever Julius II asked to see the work, he did he hunted badly from the Chapel.

Curiosities about Michelangelo - The Creation of Adam (Sistine Chapel)

Michelangelo also he had no intention to fresco the Sistine Chapel because of his predilection for sculpture. Second Giorgio Vasari,in his Lives of the most excellent painters, sculptors, and architects, was the Twine to convince Julius II to entrust the task to Michelangelo to "humiliate" him in front of the pope and favor Raffaello. Michelangelo refused several times but, after the umpteenth insistence of the pope, he accepted. However, the task was not easy, because the artist always found himself painting "over the head”And had to use a particular type of scaffolding (made specifically) to finish the job.

David from the unusable block of marble

Another interesting curiosity about Michelangelo concerns the realization of the famous one David of Michelangelo (1501-1504), preserved today at the Gallery of the Academy of Florence. As David against Goliath, also the realization of this work proved to be a great challenge for Michelangelo, since this masterpiece was born from a block of Carrara marble "defective”(With a long crack that could have irreparably damaged any sculpture). Aware that the work was already inside the block and had only to be "pulled out", Michelangelo accepted the challenge and created one of his greatest masterpieces. Precisely for this reason the David was placed in Piazza della Signoria in Florence, opposite Palazzo Vecchio.

Curiosities about Michelangelo - Copy of David at the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio
Photo: © Txllxt TxllxT -Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Michelangelo and Leonardo: the "rivalry" between the two geniuses

Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci they were two undisputed geniuses of the Italian Renaissance. However between the two it seems not really good blood. This was given above all by the two characters at the antipodes and the age difference. Leonardo was calmer and more thoughtful, Michelangelo impetuous and proud. The dispute over the location of the David is an example of this "rivalry". After the work exceeded all expectations of beauty, one was chosen jury of artists, including Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, Ghilandaio and naturally, Leonardo Da Vinci. Apparently the latter suggested placing the David in a secluded area of ​​Palazzo Vecchio (to preserve the marble). In front of the doubts of Leonardo, Michelangelo retorted by stating that "the David would have been strong enough to resist ”. Leonardo's proposal was not accepted and Lippi's idea passed instead, to place it at the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio (where the copy is today).

Featured photo source: © sailko - Wikimedia commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

6 curiosities about Michelangelo Buonarroti last edit: 2022-03-06T09:00:00+01:00 da Antonello Ciccarello

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