Essay on The Doni Tondo: Michelangelo

One of the most famous painter and sculptors of the Italian Renaissance, the age of renewal and cultural achievement circa 1500, was the artistic genius Michelangelo Buonarroti. The man that desired nothing but perfection often reached it in his work. He captured the motion of the human figure and the anatomy of muscles in a way that was increasingly beautiful and startlingly realistic. Whether because of one of the most famous sculptures in history, “the David” or the paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, that became the textbook examples for the art period of High Renaissance, Michelango’s art changed the world and he will continue to be studied with awe throughout history.

When thinking of sculptures, one of the first that comes to mind is David. This statue was created of marble between 1501 and 1504 and stands over 14 feet high. David is a symbol that represents strength and anger. The statue had intended political connotations for the ruling of the Medici family. Michelangelo used David as model of "heroic courage" to demonstrate that "spiritual strength can be more effective than arms". Michelangelo insisted that David should stand as a symbol of the republic and act as a warning that Florence shall be governed justly and bravely". This was the first time since antiquity that a large nude statue be exhibited in a public place.

173) Michelangelo’s art brings out these humanistic ideas in human figures. He learns anatomy to show the beauty of the human form accurately even though it was forbidden. He says, “all forms that exist in God’s universe can be found in the human figure” (Stone Book 5, p. 291). This rebellion of the church’s views makes him great because he refuses to see humanity as evil. This portrayal allows his paintings to stand apart from many others. Also Michelangelo wants to create perfection in life through the arts to perform Gods will. He says to Spina, “I am fulfilling the law of Moses through an art form, to compensate for the spiritual degradation of Allesandro and his bullies” (Stone Book 9, p. 656). Michelangelo integrates the nobility of classical art by showing a form of Christian humanism by not replacing God but rather glorifying him: “If my soul is to be saved, it can only be through sculpture. That is my faith, and my discipline” (Stone Book 3, p. 170). In peoples search for God freedom of thought plays a huge role. Michelangelo’s soul searching to interpret the figures, his striving for originality of vision, and in the way he executes his work is practicing this freedom. It is said that

“A man paints with his brains and not with his hands” –Michelangelo. This quotation is a powerful statement said by none other than Michelangelo Buonarroti – painter, architect, poet, sculptor and engineer. Born on March 6, 1475 in the small Italian village of Caprese near Florence. As he was apprenticed at age thirteen to Domenico Ghirlandaio and studied under early Renaissance masters, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Bertoldo di Givoanni, he developed his talents at a very young age. Not only was Michelangelo the most significant and skillful artist of the Renaissance period, his contributions such as his artistic works, his artistic techniques and his significance in art history allowed for him to have a lasting impact on the world.

Michelangelo was written by Diane Stanley. He is known for his famous quote “The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.” I chose Michelangelo because his art has always piqued my interest and his overall accomplishments amaze me.

Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475 and was born Caprese Michelangelo, Italy. He was known as a painter, architect, poet, sculptor and an engineer at his time. He was known as one of the greatest artist of the Renaissance period. People see him as an equal to Leonardo da Vinci and even Rafael. He was born into a banking family in Florence he lost his mother at an early age after his mother died his father didn’t know what to do so he send him to live with a stone cutter family. Since he didn’t like school to much his father sent him to study with Ghirlandaio that was when he found his talent in sculpting. His father sent him to study with one of the greatest artist Lorenzo de Medici when he was staying there he sculpted his first sculpture

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known as Michelangelo, was born in March 6, 1475, Caprese Michelangelo, Italy. His father`s name was Leonardo di Buonarroti Simoni and his mother`s name was Francesca Neri. Together they had five children, one of the son was Michelangelo and they returned to Florence when he was just an infant. Michelangelo lived almost all his life in Rome, where he died in 1564, with 88 years old.This important figure was an italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer of the High Renaissance. Since his mother got sick, he was placed with a family of stonecutters. He was more interested about watching the painters nearby the church, and drawing what he saw there than with the school. Francesco Granacci

Known as a successful painter, sculptor, architect, and poet, many believe that Michelangelo was the most famous artist during the Italian Renaissance. Michelangelo was born Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni in Caprese, Tuscany, on March 6, 1475. His mother and father had five sons and he was the second child. Michelangelo’s father was in the banking business and realized when his son was only 13 that he was not interested in education and was continually watching the painters at nearby churches. (Bio.com)

A comparison of the style between the famous Italian Renaissance Sculptors Michelangelo, Bandinelli, and Giambologna

Being a Renaissance painter all of his works are dedicated to maximum photorealism. His work is based on Greek and Roman statues but infused his own vision into them “When all was finished, it cannot be denied that this work has carried off the palm from all other statues, modern or ancient, Greek or Latin; no other artwork is equal to it in any respect, with such just proportion, beauty and excellence did Michelangelo finish it”-Giorgio Vasari.

Previously, the art of the Middle Ages was flat, one-dimensional, and lacking in color and movement. The art subjects were often confined to the Bible, and art was less of an expression and more of a documentation (Shearman, 1992). Contrastingly, the Italian Renaissance ushered in a more humanistic approach to art; realism and movement were encouraged, and the human body was studied in a way that made the art really come to life. It is my belief that the best representation of sculptural art of the Italian Renaissance in Michelangelo’s David. Through this work, the artist captured the human body in what I believe to be a genius way.

Michelangelo was known as the Father and Master of All the Arts. He was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese, Italy. His family was in the banking business. Because the lack of interest in the family business, Michelangelo’s father took him to study painting at the Florentine painter’s workshop. This is where he learned the fresco technique. After a year, Michelangelo moved into the palace where Lorenzo the Magnificent and the Medici family lived. He spent his time studying sculptures in the Medici gardens. During the three years, he lived in Florentine, he had the privilege to study under Bertoldo di Giovanni and many poets, scholars and Humanists. He also got to study cadavers from the Catholic Church. These experiences influenced his art style. After the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent’s death, Michelangelo went to Bologna to continue his study.

The great thing about art, is that there are multiple portrayals of one idea but, the artist’s own personal style allows one to feel something that another may not. Early Renaissance painters, Giotto di Bondone and Duccio di Buoninsegna established their own unique style to depict a biblical scene known as, The Betrayal of Christ. Through a close analysis of each artist’s representation of, The Betrayal of Christ, one is able to compare and contrast the artists own understanding of the scene through their attention to detail, character, and space throughout the painting. When examining these two works, one will have a stronger emotional response towards Giotto’s interpretation rather Duccio’s, due to his methods of handling organization, figures, and space.

The Renaissance was a period of cultural movement and the introduction of cultural heroes, is known as “Renaissance Men”. One of these men was Michelangelo Buenarroti. Michelangelo was a world-wide known painter, sculptor, architect, and poet, who was of great Importance and had a great impact on our modern day culture.

Just as other works that reflect art, pieces in the category of fine arts serve the important message of passing certain messages or portraying a special feeling towards a particular person, function or activity. At times due to the nature of a particular work, it can become so valuable that its viewers cannot place a price on it. It is not the nature or texture of an art that qualifies it, but the appreciation by those who look at it (Lewis & Lewis, 2008).