Michelangelo and Florence High Renaissance November 3rd, 2009

The first thing that comes to mind for many people when they think of Florence, Italy is the great architecture and the beautiful works of art. It was known as the cradle of the Renaissance and it produced one of the greatest artists in history, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, who was born near Florence. His name is almost synonymous with the Italian High Renaissance. He is most known for some of his marble sculptures and his painting works that are in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Most if not all of the guests in the hotels Florence Italy are aware of the great artistic reputation of the city.

Of Michelangelo’s sculptures his statue of David is definitely the most recognized statue in the world. The masterpiece was completed between 1501 and 1504 and stands just over five meters tall, which is 17 feet. One of the distinguishing elements of this work is that prior to it most depictions of the Biblical David displayed the boy hero after he had conquered the giant Goliath. However, with Michelangelo, he presents the Shepard prior to the conflict. His David is in a state of contemplation over the upcoming battle. After its official unveiling in 1504 the statue came to be a symbol of the defense of civil liberties.

The Last Judgment is a scene that Michelangelo painted on the alter wall in the Sistine Chapel. This work took four years to complete and he didn’t begin working on it until three decades after he had finished his work on the ceiling. The ceiling of the chapel is one of the most famous works of art in the world and also one of the most loved and respected. Pope Julius 11 commissioned that work that would take about four years to complete. One of the most famous images from this scene is the hand of God giving life to Adam. This is one of the most widely reproduced images in the world and prints of it hang in homes across Europe and America. In order to reach the ceiling, Michelangelo devised his own platform and scaffolding. It is commonly believed that he painted the ceiling while lying on his back though in actuality he was standing.

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• Posted by Cliff
• Tagged Travel