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Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) is a brilliant artist of the XNUMXth century, who left behind many works, to which interest has not subsided to this day.
Michelangelo created ingenious works in the field of architecture, painting and sculpture. In addition, he is also known as the greatest poet.
The artist devoted all his time to work, and even went to bed in shoes and clothes, not wanting to waste time changing clothes. In food, he was a real ascetic – Michelangelo could eat one piece of bread a day, and then he did it in the process of work.
The artist remained indifferent to external success, but he liked to emphasize his aristocratic origin.
In the biography of Buonarroti there are many white spots – it is not known where he mastered the technique of drawing. However, people who are in awe of art are more focused on paintings and sculptures than biographies of the artist.
If you want to get acquainted with the most famous works of Michelangelo and experience awe, our article will be useful to you.
10 Sculpture of Bacchus (1496)
This is one of the early works of Michelangelo, commissioned by Cardinal Rafael Riario in 1496.. The Bacchus Sculpture depicts the ancient Roman god of wine Bacchus (or Bacchus). As you can see, he holds a cup of wine in his right hand, and a bunch of grapes in his left. And what is there for a kid pulling grapes for himself?
This is none other than Satyr (Satyrs are the assistants of Dionysus, they enjoy wine and festivity). The young Satyr is slightly drunk sss and a smile appears on his face. The sculpture was appreciated and recognized as the first masterpiece of Michelangelo.
It is known that the customer refused the sculpture, but it quickly found its owner. It was acquired by Jacopo Galli, and then the sculpture was acquired by the Medici and transported to France.
9. Battle of the Centaurs (1492)
In the bas-relief “Battle of the Centaurs” Michelangelo refers to the classical plot of Greek mythology. It was the last work of the young artist, created during the reign of the Medici. The sculpture depicts a mythical battle between Lapiths and Centaurs.
The story, popular in ancient Greek art, was suggested to the artist by the classicist and poet Poliziano. Subsequently, the theme of struggle will be traced more than once in the works of Michelangelo. The intertwining of bodies in battle, athletic proportions, richness of angles create a dynamic composition.
Interesting fact: Michelangelo carved this bas-relief on a piece of Carrara marble. The battle is so fierce that the living do not notice either the wounded or the dead.
8. Madonna of Bruges (1501-1504)
Since now the “Madonna of Bruges” is a tourist attraction, the city is trying in every possible way to maintain its image, the sights are everywhere. The city managed to get this amazing relic in 1506 – many people come to Bruges just to take a photo and see the sculpture of the greatest Michelangelo.
At that time, Bruges was a prosperous city where rich people lived. One of them is the merchant Mouscron. When he visited Michelangelo in his studio, he was struck by his marble statue. Since he was a man versed in art, he was able to appreciate her.
Why did Madonna conquer the merchant so much? She is alive! “Expresses sadness” and “breathes” … The beauty of her young face is marked by subtle poetry and deep sorrow.
An interesting fact: Mouscron wanted to buy the sculpture from Michelangelo for a fabulous price – for 100 ducats, but the author did not want her to leave Italy, so he refused. However, six months later, in 1506, after receiving the letter, Michelangelo agreed to send the Madonna to Bruges. This is his only work that left Italy during his lifetime.
7. Dying Slave (1513-1519)
Statue, executed between 1513 and 1519 – an unrealized project for the tomb of Pope Julius II. The image of the bound and dying slave was not included in the final version of the tombstone, so the author presented them to Robert Strozzi, who later gave them to King Francis.
Michelangelo depicted oblivion in the statue “The Dying Slave”, it was not without reason that at first he wanted to call it the “Sleeping Slave”. Its meaning is ambiguous, the slave dies and dreams at the same time.
Whatever it is, both bring deliverance to the young man. Michelangelo worked on the statue during the years when the tragic meaning of art was finally formed in his work.
6. Pieta (1499)
Throughout his life, Michelangelo was obsessed with one image – a mother holding her dying child, her son, in her arms. This is the body of the murdered Christ, taken down from the cross and given into the hands of his mother. “Pieta” is one of the most significant sculptures by Michelangelo and the only work on which he left his signature.
At the time of the completion of the sculpture, the artist was only 24 years old (or 25, depending on various theories about the exact date of completion of the Pietta). The sculpture is made of light marble. The master cut off all unnecessary, creating a masterpiece – mother Mary holding her dying son in her arms. You can admire the Pietta in the Vatican.
5. Creation of Adam (1508-1512)
“Creation of Adam” – one of the most famous fragments of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (former house church in the Vatican, built in 1473-1481). People versed in art claim that between the imperious hand of Sabaoth and the trembling brush of Adam there is a stream of life-giving force.
At the work of Michelangelo, the hands are very symbolic, the whole picture is permeated with energy that especially impressionable viewers feel. The joining of hands represents the unity of the spiritual and material worlds, heavenly and earthly. As soon as the fingers of the hands touch, the act of creation is completed.
4. Statue of David (1503)
The “Statue of David”, created by the master in the XNUMXth century, has been perfectly preserved to this day. The 5,17 m high statue depicts the Jewish king David, who is ready to fight Goliath. On his face you can read the calmness and readiness for battle.
The king looks confident, as evidenced by his relaxed posture – perhaps a sling, a throwing weapon thrown over his shoulder, adds confidence to him. Michelangelo is the first author to depict David before the battle with Goliath.
Initially, the statue was supposed to become part of the exposition – it and 11 more copies in the 2th century were supposed to decorate the cathedral church of Florence, but since. work was slow, the author created only XNUMX statues.
For reference: the original sculpture is in the Academy Gallery.
3. Last Judgment (1536-1541)
Michelangelo’s masterpiece The Last Judgment was once criticized. No matter how they called her, but the author was convicted of betraying the Gospel.
The characters of the fresco are easily recognizable: in the center is the Virgin Mary, the judge is Christ, and according to some researchers, the face of Jesus on the fresco belongs to Michelangelo’s favorite disciple Tomasso Cavalieri.
The painting was painted by Michelangelo inspired by the Bible. The fact that the painting was placed above the altar made it even more attractive. It is believed that the fresco symbolically ends the Renaissance and heralds the transition to the Baroque. Michelangelo began work at the age of 60, after he completed the painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
2. Madonna Doni (1504-1506)
The work of the famous sculptor and artist Michelangelo “Madonna Doni”, like everyone else, is impossible to forget. It is a round picture with a diameter of 120 cm. The picture is filled with symbolism, researchers are still guessing what the naked men in the background mean.
The color scheme is different from other works by Michelangelo, but similar to the bright colors of his paintings in the Sistine Chapel. The author emphasizes the muscles of the body due to the incidence of light. In the foreground are Christ, John, Mary and Joseph.
The work was completed in the early years of the artist, and is considered his only finished painting.
1. Creation of Eve (1508-1512)
While Adam is in deep sleep, Eve bows before God with her hands clasped in prayer. She is timid and full of gratitude to the Creator. In the work “The Creation of Eve” we see 3 figures against the backdrop of a dull landscape. The Garden of Eden is waiting for humans to multiply and populate the earth…
God in this picture is depicted as a wise father, lovingly looking at his children. The creation of Michelangelo is so amazing that at the time of creation, some even said that it was created by God himself.
“A man could not create such a masterpiece,” the audience thought. Nevertheless, this is the work of Michelangelo, which has become one of the most significant masterpieces of Western European art.