Michelangelo was great in every aspect of art.

"He was celebrated as the greatest artist ever because of his

great work in the areas of sculpting, painting, draughtman, architecture, and poetry" (Tazartes 431). He has
painted many great paintings and wrote many poems in his life. He is known for being a central figure in
the history of art (Tazartes 431). Michelangelo is one of the greatest artist of all time because he was able to
change his style to fit the period of time, painting, scupultering, archieturter ability, and his influence in art.

Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1945, in Rome. When Michelangelo was young, his dad, Ludovico
Buonarroti, placed him in an art workshop. He was there for about two years. Michelangelo then started to
study sculpture at a special school at the Medici Garden. After a short stay in the class, he was invited to
stay at the house of Lorenzo De' Medici, a great painter. By the time he turned sixteen years old he had
already published two sculptures. As a student in Rome he was called "Universal Genius" (Tazartes 431).
His drawing career lasted over seventy years, and he was able to change his style to fit the period of time.
Michelangelo was able to do as many as three projects at a time. He was a great sculpturer early in life, and
then he learned how to draw and paint. Michelangelo was also a very religious man. He was a Catholic and
most of his drawings and paintings resemble his beliefs in his art work.

From 1508 through 1512, Michelangelo's time was occupied by The Sistine Chapel Ceiling. The Pope died
in 1513, and then Michelangelo signed a contract with Julius to build a tomb, but it had to be finished
within seven years (Tazartes 436). However, Michelangelo's attention was not on the tomb exclusively.
After Leo X's election Michelangelo was hired to refurbish the facade on the Papel Chapel in Castel
Sant'Angelo, Rome. Between 1514 and 1521 he signed several contracts to sculpture and paint art. Another
contract was signed with Julius to build a smaller Julian Monument, and it was drawn up in 1516 (Tazartes
436). Many people think that Julian's Tomb was not Michelangelo's best work, but this only the media's
idea about his work (Hirst 98).

Michelangelo was also a great painter. He produced a few easel paintings. His ambition was truly seen in
his paintings (Hartt 19). Michelangelo was painting pictures early in the 16th century. During that time he
was making some cartoons, but very few were published. "One of his cartoons, Battle of Cascina, was
highly influential, but the cartoon somehow disappeared" (Tazartes 442). The Sistine Ceiling is one of
Michelangelo's greatest paintings. It is probably his most well known piece of art. It is difficult to
understand the importance of the Freccoes, paintings on glass, on The Sistine Chapel (Tazartes 443). The
Pope asked Michelangelo to redo the ceiling because the Pope thought that the gold background with blue
stars where lame (Tazartes 443). Michelangelo had many drawings to pick from, but he decided to go with
the twelve Apostles design. Some of Michelangelo's late work was also really good, like The Last
Judgment. Gilio Da Fabiano didn't like Michelangelo, so he tried to destroy his reputation by saying that
Michelangelo's painting was no good, but according to most, it was one of Michelangelo's greatest painting
(Hartt 29). In 1534 Michelangelo was picked to paint The Altar of The Sistine Chapel (Tazartes 447). "The
painting was still given a bad reputation by Gilio Da Fabiano" (Hartt 30).

Michelangelo was also able to draw with the best of them. Most people use their drawing ability to get an
education, but Michelangelo used drawing as a way to express his feelings (Tazartes 449). Many of
Michelangelo's drawings became collector items during the 1800's hundreds, but most people didn't accept
the drawings. Michelangelo gave his drawings as gifts during special holidays (Tazartes 450). During the
20th century many people started to accepted his drawings.

Michelangelo was also an architect. One great piece he did was for the Medici Family. It was a miniature
model for Leo X's Chapel at Castel Sant'Andelo, Rome. It looked like Julius tomb, but it didn't have that
much sculpturing work. "The miniature model for Leo X's Chapel at Castel Sant'Andelo, Rome took him a
long time to complete, because there was some many details which need to be perfectly placed" (Tazartes
449).

"Michelangelo is probably the greatest figure in art" (Tazartes 431). Michelangelo was able to do some
many things at once which influenced many people, and those peopledidn't realize how great
Michelangelo's art was until his death. Many people think Michelangelo was sent by God to paint, draw,
and sculpture. Michelangelo became a very powerful person during his lifetime. He was great friends with
most of the kings and queens in most of the countries (Tazartes 455). Michelangelo didn't leave any
teaching notes for any of his followers.

Michelangelo is one of the most talented artists ever, and he was one of the creators of the Roman High
Renaissance with Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo affected the lives of many people. Michelangelo
drawings, paintings, sculpturing, and architecture work is still very popular in today's society. Michelangelo
will still be the most influential artist leading into the 21st century.

Work Cited

Harrt, Frederick. Michelangelo. New Haven: Harry Abrams, 1984.

Hirst, Michael. Michelangelo and His Drawings. New Haven: Yale, 1992.

Tazartes, Maurizia. The Dictionary of Art. Vol. 29. New York: Grove, 1996.