Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born on March 6, 1475. He was born in Caprese, Italy, a tiny village that belonged to the nearby city-state of Florence. A few months after his birth, the family returned to their permanent residence in Florence. He came from a family that had for several generations been small-scale bankers in Florence; his father failed to maintain this status. He had only occasional government jobs.

At an early age his father recognized his intelligence and sent him to the school of a master, who taught grammar. His mind however, was on art not his studies. Painters and sculptors at work fascinated Michelangelo. He made friends with a student who encouraged him to follow his own artistic vocation. When Michelangelo was thirteen, his father was a minor Florentine

In Rome, Michelangelo could count on the esteem and protection of Pope Clement VII. Shortly before his death, Pope Clement VII commissioned Michelangelo to paint the fresco of the Last Judgement on the Sistine Chapel. As was his custom, Michelangelo portrayed all the figures nude. "Even before its official unveiling, the Judgement became the target of violent criticism of a moral character. Others accused the painter of heresy." (Michelangelo.com, final days) About a decade later, as the cultural climate became more conservative, the Council of Trent made the decision to "amend" the fresco, and another artist added draperies.

The artist's prominence, established by the "Pieta" was reinforced at once. After several years of political confusion, in 1501 a republic was once again proclaimed in Florence. Twelve days after the proclamation of the republic, the Wool Guild, commissioned Michelangelo to sculpt a statue of David, for the cathedral of Florence. The character of David and what he symbolizes was perfectly in tune with Michelangelo's patriotic feelings. At the time, Florence was going through a difficult period, and its citizens had to be alert and mobilized to confront permanent threats. Michelangelo was devoted to the republic, and wanted each citizen to become aware of his responsibilities and commit himself to accomplishing his duty. He chose to represent David as an athletic, manly character, very concentrated and ready to fight. The modeling is especially close to those of classical antiquity, with a simplified geometry suitable to the huge scale. I has continued to serve as the Renaissance ideal of perfect humanity.

In 1526, Florence revolted against the Medici, restoring the traditional republic for the last time. Besieged by German mercenary soldiers. Michelangelo was forced to stop working on all projects. The government asked him to prepare plans for defense against assault. He showed understanding of modern defensive structures built quickly of simple materials in complex profiles that offered minimum vulnerability to attackers and maximum resistance to cannon and other artillery.

Michelangelo then went to Rome in 1496 for the first time. There he was able to examine newly unearthed classical statues and ruins. He soon produced his first large-scale sculptor, the over-life-size "Bacchus". One of the few works of pagan subject matter rather than Christian subject matter made by the master, the "Bacchus" relies on ancient Roman nude figures as a point of departure. It rivaled ancient statuary, but it is much more mobile

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Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)