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Michelangelo
1475-03-06 – 1564-02-18
Renaissance sculptor, painter, and architect who created the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the statue of David.
artistsculptorarchitectrenaissance
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was one of the greatest artists in history and a towering figure of the Renaissance. He considered himself primarily a sculptor, and his marble statue of David (1504) is one of the most recognized works of art in the world. Pope Julius II commissioned him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512), which depicts scenes from the Book of Genesis and includes the iconic image of God reaching out to touch Adam's finger. Later in life, he designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. His work combined incredible technical skill with deep emotional power, and he pushed the boundaries of what art could express about the human experience.