My favorite

I just wanted to say that I had a wonderful time learning about Michelangelo. There were so many things that I did not know before. I think his paintings and sculptures are so beautiful. I want to share my favorite piece of Michelangelo.

Pieta

Michelanglo's last days

In his final days, Michelangelo could no longer sleep. He wanted to be alone and silence was what he wanted. He claim's the night was his friend. He made himself a helmet that a candle in it so that he could work through the night.
These are Michelangelo's words concerning his last days.

"I live alone and miserable, trapped as marrow under the bark of the tree. My voice is like a wasp caught in a bag of skin and bones. My teeth shake and rattle like the keys of a musical instrument. My face is a scarecrow. My ears never cease to buzz. In one of them, a spider weaves its web, in the other one, a cricket sings all night long. My rattling catarrh won't let me sleep. This is the state where art has led me, after granting me glory. Poor, old, beaten, I will be reduced to nothing, if death does not come swiftly to my rescue. Pains have quartered me, torn me, broken me and death is the only inn awaiting me.

Michelangelo died on February 18th, 1564, after a "slow fever." IT was said of Michelangelo that he left "his soul to God, his body to the earth, and his material possessions to his nearest relations." There was not much left in his house because he had burnt most of it.

Lionardo Buonarroti, Michelanglo's nephew, took his uncle's body to Florence. Here the remains were taken to Santa Croce (where Michelangelo himself h ad wanted to be buried). There was a large attendance at the funeral to celebrate the life of a beloved artist.

The Final Materpiece

Michelangelo's final masterpiece was called the The Rondanini Pieta.Michelangelo worked on this piece for more than ten years. Michelangelo is revisiting his original Pieta by having Mary hold Jesus. It looks as though Christ is actually holding up Mary. It has been said that Michelangelo created it this way, so that it seems Christ is comforting Mary with his Spirit.
Here our Michelangelo's own words on his final masterpiece.

"the course of my life has finally reached In its fragile boat, over stormy seas The common port where we must account For all our past actions. No painting or sculpture can quiet my soul, Now turned to the Divine Love that opens To embrace me in His arms." "For ten years of sleepless nights, I've been designing a Pieta. The body of our Lord was too heavy with death to be held up by his old Mother. His head...too earthy with matter, too real...so I cut away the Lord's head and shoulders, leaving only his arm as a model for a new one, and carved a new head from the Virgin's shoulder. He backs inward to fuse with his Mother's body, as she bends forward to raise him up. Mother and Son, the Living and the Dead, become One - Death becomes a Resurrection."

Letters on St. Peter's Basilica

The following is a part of a letter Michelangelo wrote to his nephew concerning the work he wanted to do for God.

"Many believe, -- and I believe -- that I have been designated for this work by God. In spite of my old age, I do not want to give it up; I work out of love for God and I put all my hope in Him."

The following is a letter Michelangelo wrote about being harassing to get the work done.

"I spend my days supervising the construction of St. Peter's. The Vatican's financial superintendent keeps harassing me for a progress report. My response: your lordship, I am not obliged to, nor do I intend to, tell you anything. Your job is to keep the money rolling in, and out of the hands of thieves. I will see to the building."

This is part of a letter Michelangelo wrote to Giorgio Vasari about finishing the building.

"So, Vasari, God wants me to encumber him for a few more years. I know you will tell me I am a crazy old man to write sonnets -- but since many people say that I have become gaga, I have to live up to my reputation. I can feel through your letter the affection you feel for me. Yes, I would like to move my old bones next to those of my father, as you beseech me to do. But if I left Rome, I would feel guilty of dooming Saint Peter's to failure, and that would be a great shame and a deadly sin. When enough of the construction is done and nothing can be changed to it any more, I hope to follow your advice -- when it is no longer important to frustrate the appetites of those who hope that I will leave soon."

Michelangelo, the Architect

St. Peter's Basilica
Michelangelo's crowning achievement as an architect was his work at St. Peter's Basilica, where he was made chief architect in 1546. The building was being constructed according to Donato Bramante's plan, but Michelangelo became responsible for the altar end of the building on the exterior and its dome.
Michelangelo did not want pay for this work because he wanted to dedicated his last years to God and did not want payment for God's work.

The Last Judgement

After finishing the Medici Tombs, Michelangelo left Florence to return to Rome. When he arrived his was asked to design the Last Judgement. It would be painted by the Sistine chapel and would take four years to complete. This painting represents the day that Christ will judge us according to our acts. It shows Christ, with a clap of thunder, puts into motion the inevitable separation, with the saved ascending on the left side of the painting and the damned descending on the right into Dantesque hell.
During the painting, Michelangelo was accused of immortality because he drew naked figures. The person that accused him of doing this is in the painting, Michelangelo is showing him being skinned alive and being thrust to hell.

Poem of The Medici Tombs

Michelangelo wrote the following poem about the Medici Tombs.

"It is my pleasure to sleep and even more to be stone:
As long as shame and dishonor may last,
My sole desire is to see and to feel no more.
Speak softly, I beg you, do not awaken me."