Biography of Michelangelo Buonarroti

Michelangelo Buonarroti is together with Leonardo da Vinci for sure the most important artist of the the Italian Renaissance. Born on the 6th March 1475 in Caprese, Michelangelo created as a universal genius paintings, drawings, sculptures and even architecture. But he also wrote poetry and in particular sonnets and madrigals. He died on the 18th February 1564 in Rome and is today best known for his highly appreciated sculptures and frescos, namely the works at the Sistine Chapel.

Michelangelo Buonarroti: Biography, Life, Work and Art

Michelangelo di Ludovico Buonarroti Simoni was born as the third of five sons of Lodovico di Buonarroti Simoni and Francesca di Neri di Miniato del Sera. Though Michelangelo was born in Caprese, Tuscany, his family soon returned to Florence, where they originally came from.

Michelangelo was left in the care of a nanny, the daughter and wife of a stonemason, thus he used to joke that had taken his love for sculptures already with his nanny’s milk. This passion led him to leave school early, although his parents rather wanted him to study grammar and the humanities. Being an artist was not quite a reputable career at those times and his parents considered it as not befitting their rank.