If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission.
kindly readour disclosurefor more info.
From his iconicDavidsculptureto his breathtakingfrescos in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo has been making history for centuries.
Daniele da Volterra, “Portrait of Michelangelo,” c. 1544 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please readour disclosurefor more info.
In fact, Michelangelo is the first Western artist to have a biography published during his lifetime.
For centuries we’ve admired his art, but the man behind the art is just as fascinating.
Learn 10 facts you may not know about world-famous sculptorMichelangelo.
Michelangelo, “Madonna of the Stairs,” 1491 (Photo: Sailko viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
He grew up near a marble quarry.
It was during this time that he developed a passion for the material that would last his whole life.
Another sculptor broke his nose.
Daniele da Volterra, “Portrait of Michelangelo,” c. 1548–1553 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, PD-US)
When Michelangelo was 17, another young sculptor named Pietro Torrigianobroke his noseafter Michelangelo made a sharp comment.
The injury was so severe, that it left Michelangelo’s nose permanently disfigured.
He first gained attention for committing art fraud.
It was once rumored that the famed “Laocoon and His Sons” sculpture was also a forgery by Michelangelo (Photo: LivioAndronico viaWikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The young artist even buried themarble sculptureand dug it up so that it would seem old and worn.
Rather, he invited Michelangelo to come to Rome and work for him.
It was an invitation that launched Michelangelo’s career.
Michelangelo, “David,” 1501–1504 (Photo: Jörg Bittner Unna viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY 3.0)
He was a poet.
It’s#WorldPoetryDay!
These pages from one of Michelangelo’s sketchbooks feature five drafts of poems dating from 15011505.
Michelangelo, “The Pietà,” 1498–1499 (Photo: Stanislav Traykov, Niabot (cut out) viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
Later translations in English included the original pronouns and Michelangelo’s poems were particularly popular during the Victorian era.
Princeton University Press’Poems and Lettersincludes a selection of the artist’s poems about love and religion.
His most famous sculpture was made with a piece of discarded marble.
Detail of “The Last Judgement” showing Saint Bartholomew displaying his flayed skin, with the face of Michelangelo (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, PD-US)
The marble used to createDavidhas an interesting history itself.
It remained unused for nearly 40 years when church officials decided it was a waste to leave it outside.
He was just 26 years old at the time.
Detail of “The Last Judgement” with Biagio da Cesena as Minos by Michelangelo, 1536–1541 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, PD-US)
He didn’t like signing his work.
After coming to Rome, he was asked to createThePieta.
It was something he supposedly later regretted, vowing to never sign another work.
Raphael, “Portrait of Pope Julius II, in the Mass at Bolsena,” 1512 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, PD-US)
He often included self-portraits in his art.
He wasn’t always easy to get along with.
It also wasn’t wise to cross Michelangelo.
Michelangelo, “Rondanini Pietà,” 1594 (Photo: Paolo da Reggio viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0)
In an act of revenge, Michelangelo used the official’s face on the figure of Minos.
He worked for nine different popes.
He was a workaholic, but it paid off.
Michelangelo lived a long life, passing away at age 88.
While that position occupied much of his time, he continued sculpting.
As such afamous artistwith a long career, it should come as no surprise thatMichelangelo died a wealthy man.
Interestingly, for as wealthy as he was, Michelangelo didn’t act like it.
