Why was Michelangelo so important?

Answer 1

He supported the semi-religion of learning and the arts. He showed this by painting the murals on the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475 in the village of Caprese, Italy. He was one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, a period when the arts and sciences flourished. Michelangelo became an apprentice to prominent Florentine painter, Domenico Ghirlandaio at the age of 12, but soon began to study sculpture instead. He attracted the attention and patronage of Lorenzo de Medici, who was ruler of Florence until 1492.

At age 23, Michelangelo completed his magnificent Pieta, a marble statue that shows the Virgin Mary grieving over the dead Jesus. He began work on the colossal figure of "David" in 1501, and by 1504 the sculpture (standing at 4.34m/14 ft 3 in tall) was in place outside the Palazzo Vecchio. The statue became a symbol for the new republic that had replaced Medici rule.

Michelangelo portrayed David partly as the ideal man, partly as an adolescent youth. Unlike predesessors by other sculptors which depict David with the grissly head of the giant under his foot, Michalangelo poses David at the moment he faces the giant, with the deed before him. He believed this was the moment of David's greatest courage.

From 1508 until 1512 Michelangelo worked on his most famous project, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. He had always considered himself a sculptor and resisted painting the Sistine with characteristic vehemence: "I cannot live under pressures from patrons, let alone paint." Only the power of the Pope Julius II forced him into the reluctant achievement of the world's greatest single fresco. He covered the ceiling with paintings done on wet plaster, showing nine scenes from the Old Testament. Michelangelo later painted "The Last Judgment" on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel.

Toward the end of his life, Michelangelo became more involved in architecture and poetry. In 1546 he was made chief architect of the partly finished St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, where the Pieta is now kept

Answer 2

At the time of the High Renaissance, the pigments (paints) were limited. But, to be able to paint this on the ceiling is just amazing (and he didn't even have any assistents, which was common back then). His works have survived for many years, very detailed and precise, great coloring, etc.

Answer 2:

His sculptures and paintings were groundbreaking - different from what had been done before.

Michelangelo could see in a block of fine marble the figure the marble wanted to become. He knew intimately the luminescence of marble and how to bring out the human form in it. To fully understand his ability one can stand in the presence of the actual statue of David. Copies do it no justice. The luminescence of the marble and the power and humanity of it defies explanation. it is, in my opinion a seventh wonder of the world.

Michelangelo was single minded and lived an ascetic lifestyle in order to give all to his art. Indeed, his body of works is most amazing in it's volume and depth, including a wood sculpture, bronze, paintings, frescoes (sistine chapel ceiling for example). As an example of the length to which he went to bring for the human body, he risked his life to disect human cadavers at the hospital of Santo Spirito. He did this in complete secrecy for it was punishable by death to defile a body. His understanding of the human viscera beneath the skin is evident in virtually every work he did afterward and was ground breaking. He was, as were many artists of his time, an architect as well having designed the final plans for the St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. He did not live to see it fulfilled however. He paved the way for the great sculptor Bernini.

Answer 3

Michelangelo completed the Sistine Chapel, which is very well known for today. He also did many other sculptures, paintings, and other stuff too. He was truly a fabulous Renaissance figure.

Answer 4

To choose just one area (you could choose from several), Michaelangelo Buonarrati represents the highest pinnacle that the art of sculpture has ever risen to in history.

Answer 5

He was an exeptional painter! By painting/sculpting the human body in lifelike and realistic poses, depicting musculature in detail, and making his work emotionally available to the viewer.

Answer 6

Because of his artistic legacy.