Michelangelo

Michelangelo was one of the greatest artists of all time. He was born in Italy in 1475. He could paint, sculpt, design buildings, and write poetry. He carved the famous statue of David from a single block of marble. He also painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of the most amazing artworks ever made. Michelangelo worked hard his whole life and lived to be 88 years old.

The Statue of David

When Michelangelo was just 26, he carved David from a huge block of marble that other sculptors had given up on. The statue is 17 feet tall and shows the Bible hero David about to fight the giant Goliath. Every muscle looks real. The statue stands in a museum in Florence, Italy, and millions of people visit it every year. It took Michelangelo about two years to finish.

The Sistine Chapel

Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo worked for four years, lying on his back on tall scaffolding. He painted scenes from the Bible, including the famous picture of God reaching out to touch Adam's finger. The ceiling covers about 5,000 square feet. When it was finished, people were amazed. It is still one of the most visited artworks in the world.

Fun Facts

• Michelangelo carved the statue of David from a block of marble that two other sculptors had already rejected.
• While painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, paint dripped into Michelangelo's eyes so much that he had trouble seeing afterward.
• Michelangelo also designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world.

Did You Know?

Michelangelo did not actually lie flat on his back to paint the Sistine Chapel. He stood on scaffolding and bent backward, which gave him terrible neck and back pain for years!