Michelangelo

Michelangelo Buenarroti is born

Mar 6, 1475

Michelangelo was born in Caprese, Italy, where his father was Lodovico Buenarroti was serving as a government agent from Florence. They soon moved to Florence with the rest of their family. He was the second child to a family of nine, but was placed under the care of a foster mom as an infant. At the age of six, Michelangelo's biological mother died, so he never really knew much about her.

Leonardo Da Vinci invents the Parachute

1480

Leonardo Da Vinci was a renaissance man, being a painter, architect, inventor, sculptor, military engineer and draftsman. he studied sciences and nature, which influenced his work greatly and inspired numerous artists in the future. The original design of the parachute consisted of sealed linen cloth held open by a pyramid of wooden poles, about seven meters long.

Michelangelo quits school

1488

When he was thirteen years old, Michelangelo left his school and signed up as a painter for an apprenticeship. This was where he worked with Domenico Ghirlandaio, the "most fashionable" painter in Florence of the time.

Bartolomeu Dias sails around the Cape of Good Hope

1488

Bartolomeu was the first European explorer to sail around the southern tip of Africa, which opened a sea route from Europe to Asia. Dias's breakthrough made it possible to increase trades with India and other Asian countries.

Michelangelo leaves workshop

1489

After a year, Michelangelo leaves the apprenticeship and begins to study sculpture. He was taught in the Gardens of Lorenzo de Medici, who allowed Michelangelo to dine with their family. The retired sculptor who was in charge of Medici's collection of sculptures looked after young Michelangelo for three years at the Ducal Palace, which was a strange occurrence at the time.

Lorenzo De Medici dies

1492

The year Michelangelo's mentor dies, political strife takes place within the Medici family. This causes him to move back in with his poor father in Bologna.

Christopher Columbus sails to the New World

Aug 3, 1492

Spanish voyager, Christopher Columbus sailed the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria across the Atlantic to what he thought would be Asia. To his surprise, he landed in the Americas, also known as the New World. Columbus's goal was fame and fortune, which was achieved through a Spanish contract which said he was allowed to keep ten percent of any of his findings in the New World, along with a noble title and the governorship of any lands he should encounter.

Michelangelo moves back to Rome

1497

Back in Rome, Michelangelo carved a Bacchus for a banker's garden of ancient sculpture. This was his earliest surviving large-scale sculpture, and his only sculpture meant to be viewed from all sides.

Michelangelo Carves David

1501

Upon returning to Florence, Michelangelo is recognized as the most talented artist in central Italy, and is commissioned to sculpt David for the Florence cathedral. This project took three years, and is a fourteen feet tall marble depiction of the Biblical hero, David.

Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel

1508

Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. This project took Michelangelo four years to paint the ceiling, which was changed from being painted blue with dotted stars to 33 separate areas with individually painted scenes. One of these scenes is the renowned Creation of Adam, which has been recreated countless times.

Michelangelo is asked to built a fort in Florence

1516

When Florence anticipated an attack by Papal and Imperial Army, Michelangelo is appointed as the Chief of Fortifications. Because of this, he has to suspend his work in the Medici Chapel to protect his city.

Ferdinand Magellan sails around the world

1519

Previous to Ferdinand Magellan's worldly travels, everyone thought the earth was flat. While attempting to find another route to the Spice Islands, Magellan and his crews sailed on, despite the many setbacks; which includes Magellan's death. This proved the earth is, in fact, round.

Michelangelo flees Florence

1534

Not long after Michelangelo designs his fort for Florence, a significant obstacle was found in said fort, and Florence survived under siege for ten months until falling. Michelangelo could have been declared a traitor, but is given immunity by the Pope if he agrees to continue working on the Medici Chapel. However, when the Pope died, Michelangelo fled to Rome, never to return.

Death of Martin Luther

1546

Martin Luther was the catalyst of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, which resulted in the division between Catholicism and new protestant traditions. He was a German Monk, and he died at the age of 62 during a trip to his hometown. He left behind a wife and six children.

Elizabeth becomes Queen of England

1558

Queen Elizabeth ruled for 19 years, after her sister Queen Mary died. She inherited many issues with the country from her sister, and so she swiftly acted upon them accordingly. Queen Elizabeth died in 1603 at Richmond Palace in Surrey, and it is believed that the concoction of lead and vinegar she used to create her pale complexion impacted her health fatally.

Michelangelo Dies

Feb 18, 1564

Weeks before his 89th birthday, Michelangelo died in his home in Macel de'Corvi following a brief illness. Just a few days before he died, Michelangelo was hard at work with his sculpture, Rondanini Pieta. Although the Pope wanted him to be buried in St. Peters, Michelangelo's nephew, Leonardo, took the body back to Florence to be buried in Santa Croce.