Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born in 1475 during the High Renaissance in the Republic of Florence. Michelangelo was raised in Florence and at six years old, lost his mother to a prolonged illness.
Michelangelo never married. He was known to lead a private life and often claimed that his artworks were his children. Michelangelo’s correspondence with younger men during his later years is an indication that he may have been homosexual.
Michelangelo’s art in the later stages of his life reflects his fascination with the concept of mortality since he was drawn to sculpting and drawing many smaller versions of La Pietà.
Artists who influenced Michelangelo included figures such as Bertoldo di Giovanni, who was Michelangelo’s earliest mentor and introduced the young artist to classical sculpture.
Michelangelo’s legacy can be noted in his use of different styles and techniques, coupled with his unique views of beauty and perfectionism across human anatomy, naturalism, and classical works.
While he was a poet and perfectionist, he was also an art collector who collected a hoard of manuscripts, sculptures, and drawings that he deemed valuable for their historical significance.