Michelangelo: Artist and Man

He is one of the greatest artists of all time, a man whose name has become synonymous with the word "masterpiece": Michelangelo Buonarotti. As an artist he was unmatched, the creator of works of sublime beauty that express the full breadth of the human condition. Yet in a world where art flourished only with patronage, Michelangelo was caught between the conflicting powers and whims of the Medici family in Florence and the Papacy in Rome. Unlike many artists of his time, his genius was recognized, but at a cost to his personal life. Michelangelo: Artist and Man would be useful for classes on Renaissance History, Art History, and Geography. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.

• balk
• benefactor
• chaste
• denigrate
• destitute
• dissuade
• eloquent
• emissary
• exalt
• fanaticism
• grandiose
• hedonism
• humanism
• imbroglio
• introspective
• kindred
• mercurial
• patron
• pauper
• placate
• posterity
• prodigious
• respite
• secular
• venue
• wily
• writhing
• zealous

1. Michelangelo's masterpiece, The Pieta, was displayed at the 1964 World's Fair. Why was the display of this statue controversial?

2. Art is a subjective medium. What makes a creation "art?" What makes a work of art a masterpiece?

3. Michelangelo's works are considered masterpieces. Why do his works qualify as such? What qualities do they possess that earns them the title of masterpieces?

4. Michelangelo lived during one of history's most prolific eras, the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, art, culture, literature and philosophy flourished. How did this Renaissance contribute to the work and success of Michelangelo? How might his works have been different if he lived during the Dark Ages instead of the Renaissance?

5. Michelangelo's father vehemently opposed Michelangelo's ambitions to be an artist. Why was his father so against Michelangelo's ambitions?

6. As a boy and a young man, Michelangelo lived at the palace of Lorenzo Medici, the most powerful man in Florence. How did Michelangelo's stay with Medici help foster his career?

7. Michelangelo was a deeply religious man. How did his faith influence his work?

8. Another great artist, Leonardo Da Vinci, lived at the same time and in the same place as Michelangelo. Why were these two great artists, both acknowledged as geniuses in their lifetimes, bitter rivals?

9. How does the art of Michelangelo transcend time?

10. What is the legacy of Michelangelo?

1. Create a fresco painting. Apply plaster of Paris to a slab of wood and let dry thoroughly. After it is dry, use the plaster as a canvas to create your own masterpiece.

2. A painting or a sculpture are an expression of the artist him/herself. Some artists use their religion, others use their emotions or relationships, and some use patriotism for inspiration. Create a clay sculpture that depicts and expresses the ideals and beliefs that are important to you.

3. Choose your favorite work of Michelangelo and write an essay about it. What makes this particular creation your favorite? Why does this piece move you? Why has it endured after five centuries?

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Air Dates

• April 16, 2004