Discover the Master: 12 Surprising and Entertaining Facts About Michelangelo's Life and Art

1. Sistine Chapel Teamwork

Despite rumors that he practiced "sol-art" and exclusively worked in his birthday suit, Michelangelo was no stranger to teamwork when it came to his most famous project: In reality, the iconic Sistine Chapel ceiling had the brushstrokes of several assistants, who helped with tasks like mixing paint, prepping plaster, and being professional ladder-climbers, though the master himself handled the artistic blueprint, providing sketches, cartoons, and the major painting work.
Source => thoughtco.com

2. Sculpture Ruse Turned Patron

When life gives you fake lemons, make some Renaissance lemonade: Michelangelo, at just 21 years old, crafted a "Sleeping Eros" marble sculpture with such deceiving skill, it was sold to Cardinal Raffaele Riario as a genuine Roman antique; only after the ruse was discovered did Riario decide to become Michelangelo's first patron in Rome, kickstarting the young sculptor's legendary career.
Source => artsy.net

Did you know Michelangelo felt intimidated by Pope Julius II while painting the Sistine Chapel's ceiling? Discover what caused him to rush some portions of this masterpiece!

=> Fun Facts about The-Sistine-Chapel

3. Medici Sculpture Garden Infiltrator

Ah, the student becomes the master; or, in Michelangelo's case, the cunning disguise of a mere apprentice to unlock the secrets of the Medici's marble menagerie: Michelangelo was so passionate about sculpture that he pretended to be an apprentice in order to gain entry into the Medici family's sculpture gardens, where he could study ancient Roman sculptures for hours on end.
Source => history.com

4. Morbid Anatomy Masterclass

Before Grey's Anatomy, there was Michelangelo's Morbid Masterclass: At the tender age of 17, the renowned artist spent his time dissecting corpses in a convent's hospital to further understand the human form for his art, all while sculpting a wooden crucifix in return for his grisly lessons.
Source => ranker.com

5. Michelangelo's Sketchy Paranoia

Talk about a sketchy paranoia: Michelangelo, a master of keeping his artistic cards close to his chest, burned the majority of his drawings during his lifetime to prevent others from witnessing his creative struggles. Just a precious few of his 28,000 masterpieces survived, providing us with mere glimpses into the genius that was Michelangelo.
Source => getty.edu

6. "Where's Michelangelo?" in Raphael's Fresco

Imagine Michelangelo playing "Where's Waldo?" with Raphael's fresco, only to find himself in a philosophical debate with fire: In "The School of Athens," Raphael sneakily painted Michelangelo's likeness as the philosopher Heraclitus, without Michelangelo posing for it, based on his appearance and reputation in Rome at the time.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Architectural Italian Stallion

As a true master of multitasking, Michelangelo could effortlessly juggle paintbrushes, chisels, and even blueprints as he rocked the Renaissance like a true Italian Stallion: In addition to being celebrated for his awe-inspiring sculpting and painting skills, Michelangelo also moonlighted as an architect and played a pivotal role in designing the iconic dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, working on the project from 1547 until his death in 1564 and leaving behind a legacy that shaped the final masterpiece.
Source => vocal.media

8. Derailed Pope Julius II's Tomb

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade; when Pope Julius II gives you a tomb project, you end up painting the Sistine Chapel: Michelangelo's initial assignment of designing a grand tomb for the Pope was frequently interrupted by other tasks, ultimately leading to a much-diminished tomb at San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome in 1545, despite earlier plans for a three-story marble masterpiece with forty-seven large figures.
Source => metmuseum.org

9. Michelangelo's Humble Single Signature

Michelangelo, known for being a literal Renaissance man, discreetly proved his humility was as sculpted as his marble masterpieces by leaving only one signature. It's quite ironic that the famous artist remains synonymous with autographing but a single work of art—talk about a low-key celebrity, right? Eager beaver to leave his mark: Michelangelo signed the Pietà, the stunning statue of Mary cradling the crucified Jesus, not once but twice, with one carved on a strap across her chest and another as a subtle 'M' on her palm.
Source => secretimages.org

10. Renaissance Richie Rich

Who would have thought that the original Renaissance Man, Michelangelo, was also the original Richie Rich of the art world? Well, buckle your paint-splattered seatbelts, folks: Recent discoveries of unknown bank accounts belonging to Michelangelo have now pegged his fortune at approximately £30m in today's value! Despite rolling in the dough like a well-kneaded pizza, the famed artist kept it low key and even wrote a poem lamenting his life as a "poor, old servant of others" - a humbling reminder that chiseling masterpieces doesn't always chisel away at one's humility.
Source => theguardian.com

11. Dramatic Sculptor with a Tender Heart

Michelangelo, the dramatic sculptor of teenage angst with a chisel, was quite the perfectionist, often butting heads with anyone who dared commission his works. But wait, there's amore: As it turns out, his rebellious heart was also a tender one, leaving behind a treasure trove of poems, letters, and sonnets filled with passion and love for those close to him.
Source => sundaypost.com

12. Backache to Masterpiece

While "Orange is the New Black," Michelangelo decided "backache is the new masterpiece": Contrary to his penchant for sculpting, the Renaissance artist tackled the herculean task of painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgement fresco, enduring excruciating discomfort to create some of history's most revered artworks.
Source => michelangelo.net