Michelangelo (my kel AN jel oh) was born in Italy in
the village of Caprese. His father was a government agent.
He attended school, and at the age of 12 he became an apprentice to a
famous painter in Florence, Domenico Ghirlandajo.
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After a year or so he stopped painting and began
working as a sculptor.
It was during this time that he lived with the Medici (MED ee chee)
family, an influential Italian family. When they lost power he went to
Rome, and it was there he carved the marble sculpture "Pieta"
(pea ay TAH) when he was 23 years old. The sculpture shows Mary holding
the lifeless body of Jesus after He was taken down from the cross. Such
a marvelous work, and only the first of many larger than life statues
he would create.
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Pope Julius II commissioned him to paint the ceiling
of the Sistene
chapel in the Vatican at Rome. This became his most famous work. It
covered 1,000 square yards and showed nine scenes from the Old
Testament; three each of the Creation of the world, Adam and Eve, and
Noah. There were also pictures of Old Testament prophets and other
figures. He began the work in 1508 and finished it in 1512.
Julius II also wanted Michelangelo to carve statues for his tomb. He
originally wanted 40 marble statues, but only three were completed.
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When the Medici returned to power, he spent nearly
twenty years working for them designing their tombs and the Medici
Chapel.
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The next ten years were spent in Rome working for Pope
Paul III. During
this time he painted "The Last Judgment" and started the construction
of the dome in St. Peter's Church.
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Michelangelo at the end of his productive life was 89
years old.
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(A pieta is a painting or sculpture of
Mary holding and grieving over the dead body of Christ. The word
"pieta" means "pity". Many such paintings and sculptures have been
done.)
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