He relocated to Venice before proceeding to Bologna, where he was tasked to complete the carving of some small figures found at the Shrine and tomb of St. Michelangelo, however, left the city even before the political crisis started. The artist was given another chance to re-enter the Medici court in 1494, and this was the time when Piero de Medici commissioned from him a snow statue.ĭuring the same year that the artist came back to the court, the Medici had to leave Florence because of the rise of Savonarola. The said prior gave the artist a chance to study the anatomy of some of the corpses found at the church's hospital.īy 1493, he decided to buy a marble that he could use for a life-size statue of Hercules, which was eventually sent to France. A few months after, he was able to make a wooden crucifix, which he gave as a present to the prior of the Santa Maria del Santo Spirito. He was forced to leave the security of living and earning money at the Medici court, and he came back to his father's house. When Lorenzo died in 1492, this caused some challenges and uncertainties in the life of Michelangelo. Poliziano suggested the theme Battle of the Centaurs, and this artwork was commissioned by Lorenzo de Medici. It was also during this period that the artist began sculpting some of his renowned works including the Battle of the Centaurs and Madonna of the Steps. While studying at the academy, Michelangelo realized that his outlook and works were rather influenced by numerous writers and philosophers in history such as Pico della Mirandola, Poliziano and Marsilio Ficino. Hence, the young artist was given a chance to be enrolled in the Humanist Academy, an institution founded by the Medici.

Without hesitation, he recommended Francesco Granacci and Michelangelo. In 1489, a wealthy man and Florence's de facto ruler named Lorenzo de Medici asked Ghirlandaio for two of his best pupils. A year after, the artist's father asked Ghirlandaio to pay Michelangelo as an artist, and this was a rather unusual circumstance during that time. Moreover, the Renaissance was flourishing in this Italian city, which gave rise to impressive structures and artistic masterpieces.Īt 13 years old, Michelangelo obtained apprenticeship from Ghirlandaio. The town council sponsored art, along with wealthy patrons, banking associates and merchant guilds. He was also able to meet several painters who inspired him to pursue his art education.Īt that time, Florence was considered as the center of learning and arts throughout Italy. However, he was vaguely interested in formal schooling, as he was more fascinated with copying paintings from various churches in Italy. The artist came to Florence, so he could study grammar under his master Francesco da Urbino. In 1481, his mother died of a chronic illness, and he was only 6 years of age at that time. When he was born, his father served as the judicial administrator at Caprese, as well as Chiusi's local administrator.Įventually, Michelangelo's family went back to Florence, and this was where the artist lived much of his childhood. His family were bankers in Florence, but his father decided to enter a government post when the bank industry failed.

Born on March 6, 1475, in a town near Arezzo, in Tuscany, Michelangelo lived a comfortable life during his childhood.

Michealangelo horse sketch