History sticks to your feet

- February 9 -

Michelangelo and the Renaissance

“The Torment of Saint Anthony” Michelangelo 1487

What do I know about Michelangelo? (Prior to class)

The first thing that comes to mind is the book “From the Mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.”

I remember when they become fascinated with a sculpture and its mysterious initial’s engraved on it. They later find out that it is a Michelangelo piece. I believe this piece was a vase, and so learning that he had also made things as humble as a vase compared to his elaborate and almost god-like other works this shocked me.

The next thing that comes to mind is a sketch of his that I had to recreate in drawing class.

“Studies for the Libyan Sibyl” Michelangelo 1508

By recreating this piece I learned a lot about his touch as an artist and I gained an appreciation for his balance of tight well-rendered forms and the way they fade loosely into the atmosphere. This recreation also helped me with my composition struggles, for even in his sketches Michelangelo has a sense of balance in composition.

Of course I know the basics, he lived in Italy during the Renaissance and he painted the magnificent Sistine Chapel.

And he had a great beard.

And his work lives on…

I wonder what he would say.