Michelangelo
1475- 1564
A sculptor, painter, architect, and engineer from Italy. He is known as the most famous artist in the Italian Renaissance.
Background Michelangelo di Lovodico Buonarroti Simoni was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese (Republic of Florence), Italy. Soon after he was born his family moved to Florence. Although his mom died when he was 6 and his father did not support his interest in art, Michelangelo continued to develop his talents. As a kid he never payed attention in school and chose to copy paintings instead. He drew inspiration at a young age from other artists such as Giotto and Masaccio. Finally his father embraced his talent and convinced Ghirlandaio take up Michelangelo as an art student. The ruler of Florence, Lorenzo di Medici, asked Ghirlandaio to send two students to go to an art school and Michelangelo was chosen. This is how Michelangelo started to love art. Closer to his death he grew more interested in architecture and writing. He never married but wrote hundreds of love poems to people in his later life. He died in Rome, Italy on February 18, 1564 at the age of 88 from an illness.
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