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Mar 6, 1475
Birth
Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6 in Caprese, a village near Florence, during his father’s short term as mayor and local magistrate. However, the family soon returned to Florence. His mother died when he is six so the young Michelangelo is placed in the care of a foster-mother in a town five miles from Florence.
source: http://www.biography.com/people/michelangelo-9407628 -
Jan 1, 1478
Spanish Inquisition Begins
Isabella and Ferdinand chose Catholicism to unite Spain. In 1478 they asked permission of the pope to begin the Spanish Inquisition to purify the people of Spain. In 1483 Tomas de Torquemada became the inquisitor-general for most of Spain. He remained the leader of the Spanish Inquisition for fifteen years and is believed to be responsible for the execution of around 2,000 Spaniards.
source: https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/west-and-the-world--24 -
Jan 1, 1488
Dropout to apprentice
In 1488 Michelangelo quit school and became the apprentice of the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio. At the time he lived in the household of Lorenzo de' Medici who, in Florence, was the leading patron of the arts. This permitted him access to the social elite of Florence and allowed him to study under the respected sculptor Bertoldo di Giovanni and advertised to him prominent poets, scholars and learned Humanists.
source: http://www.biography.com/people/michelangelo-9407628#early-life -
Jan 1, 1492
Columbus discovers the Americas
Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas in the late 15th century when he led his three ships - the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria - out of the Spanish port of Palos. His intention was to sail west until he reached Asia (the Indies) where the riches of gold, pearls and spice awaited.Columbus had discovered the southern "Trades" that in the future would fuel the sailing ships carrying goods to the New World.
source: https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/west-and-the-world--24 -
Jan 1, 1495
Returning to Florence
Michelangelo returned to Florence in 1495, where a new government had been formed under the influence of Savonarola, without the ruling Medici. However, another branch of the Medici family were in some favor: Lorenzo di Pier Francesco de' Medici commissioned the carving of a boy St. John the baptist. Michelangelo also carved a small sleeping Cupid and received a commission to carve David.
source: Stokes 86 -
Jan 1, 1505
Summoned to Rome
Michelangelo was summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II to work on his tomb, including 40 grand, life-size statues. On and off he worked on the tomb, in both Rome and Florence, carved Moses, "The Rebellious and Dying Slaves", "Rachel", and "Leah." During this time Michelangelo also painted the Sistine Chapel, built tombs for the Medici family, designed the Medici Chapel, and started his painting "The Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel."
source: http://www.history.com/topics/michelangelo -
Jan 1, 1512
Painting of Sistine Chapel
In 1508 Michelangelo was called back to Rome by Pope Julius II to paint the 12 apostles on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the most sacred part of the Vatican in which the new popes are elected and inaugurated.Throughout this 4-year project he painted 12 figures- 7 prophets and 5 sibyls, female prophets of myth- along the border and in the center is scenes of the Genesis. Overall, the most famous of the paintings is "The Creation of Adam."
source: http://www.history.com/topics/michelangelo -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther 95 Theses
The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences written by Martin Luther. This is a list of questions and propositions for debate. It protests against clerical abuses, especially the sale of indulgences. Legend has it that Luther defiantly nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church.
source:https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/west-and-the-world--24 -
Jan 1, 1534
New love and new pieces
After leaving Florence in 1534 for Rome, Michelangelo wrote thousands of letters to his family still living in Florence. The theme of these letters is often of his strong attachment to multiple young men, specifically aristocrat Tommaso Cavalieri. It is heavily debated whether this was a love or father-son relationship. Additionally, The Last Judgment (painting finished in 1534); and Day, Night, Dawn and Dusk (sculptures) are all works completed during this time period.
source: History.com Staff -
Jan 1, 1543
Scienific Revolution
This was the period of time in which a new way of thinking about the natural world based on observations and questioning old beliefs. People began to use experimentation, observation, and scientific reasoning to draw conclusions and gather knowledge. Reasons why things were so weren't based off of church ideas anymore or off of common sense. This time period brought forth many new instruments, used to experiment, and recognized some of history's most famous scientists.
source: Beck and notes -
Jan 1, 1545
Tomb of Pope Julius II completed
Eight years before his death, Pope Julius II della Rovere, who reigned from 1503-1513, had already began thinking of plans to create a grand tomb for himself. It would be placed in the new Saint Peter's Basilica being constructed according to Bramante’s design. The Pope entrusted Michelangelo with the sculptural project. It consisted of 40 life size structures and is made entirely of marble.
source: http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/334655 -
Jan 1, 1546
Becoming Chief Architect
Michelangelo, who served as main architect of St. Peters Basilica for a while, designed the dome. He disliked the previous artist's designs so he had it demolished and came up with the new plan/design. Becoming chief architect was his crowning glory as it has been copied in many lands for churches and public buildings. Overall, this job brought Michelangelo great success and fame.
source: http://www.biography.com/people/michelangelo-9407628#conflict -
Jan 1, 1555
"Lives of Painters, Sculptors, and Architects" and "Life of Michelangelo" published, and Florentine completed
Michelangelo began sculpting the “ Bandini Pietà “, a work that was meant for the artist’s tomb. In this Florentine Pieta, Michelangelo depicted himself as the older Nicodemus lowering Jesus from the cross into the arms of Mary, his mother, and Mary Magdalene. In a moment of frustration Michelangelo suddenly smashed the left arm and leg of the figure of Jesus. His student repaired the arm and drilled a hole in which to fix a replacement leg.
source: http://www.accademia.org/michelangelo/ -
Jan 1, 1557
Spain declares bankruptcy for 1st time
Philip II of Spain had to declare four state bankruptcies in 1557, 1560, 1575 and 1596. Spain was one of the first nations to declare bankruptcy. This declaration occurred under the reign of King Phillip II. The king was faced with an alarming amount of deb. He failed to turn the economic problems of Spain around which contributed to the decline of the Spanish Empire.
source: https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/west-and-the-world--24 -
Jan 1, 1560
Start of the European Wars of Religion
The European Wars of Religion were a series of religious wars in Europe from 1524 to 1648. These wars followed the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation in Central, Western and Northern Europe. The people could not be divided by all the religions nor categorized into one.
source: https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/west-and-the-world--24 -
Feb 18, 1564
Death
Two days after working all day on his Rondanini Pietà Michelangelo came down with a fever. However, he decided to go for a walk in the cold night air.The next day was spent sitting next to the fireplace but finally he must crawl into bed. He died on February 18. The Pope wanted to have him buried in St. Peter’s but his nephew, and heir, Leonardo took the body back to Florence. Over a hundred artists attended his funeral.
source: http://www.biography.com/people/michelangelo-9407628
