Michelangelo played a massive part in Renaissance art and was even compared to other greats like Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. If this sounds like the Ninja Turtles, this is because the popular cartoon was also heavily influenced by these Renaissance artists, even naming the turtles after them.
An artist’s belief often significantly impacts the art they create, which is why many people remain curious about what Michelangelo believed in and how his spirituality influenced his art. While it’s hard to honestly know his beliefs, some accounts and pieces explain his spiritual life.
If you want to learn more about Michelangelo’s spiritual life, read more to understand what’s known about the beliefs of one of the greatest Renaissance artists.
Before learning more about Michelangelo’s beliefs, let’s first know who he was.
Who was Michelangelo?
The full name of the famous Michelangelo was Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, and he was a multitalented artist. He excelled in various artistic fields, including sculpting, architecture, painting, and poetry.
However, his most famous pieces are his David and The Creation of Adam, which form part of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. His architectural works include St. Peter’s Basilica, among many others.
Michelangelo also spent his time on his works, such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling, which took him four years to complete from 1508 to 1512. Aside from how beautiful his paintings and paintings were, he was also well known for his anatomical accuracy, revealing that he understood the human body.
Michelangelo’s spiritual life
While most people assumed that he was a devout Christian due to his works in chapels and other key religious sites, he later believed in spiritualism. Pope Paul IV even condemned his shift in belief despite starting as righteous.
The artist believed that spiritualism was the path to God and that finding God could be done even without the help of the Catholic church. He also believed in the direct communication between an average human and God.
He believed that humans didn’t need to go through the church to get to God; as he was dying, he even requested that he not be buried on Vatican grounds. Instead, he asked that he be buried in Florence.
Understanding Michelangelo
There are many interesting facts about Michelangelo as an artist and human being. Here are some things people can try to learn to understand the artist better.
Unfinished works
The great artist passed away with a few pieces left unfinished for many reasons. Two of the most popular pieces that weren’t finished before his passing include the Medici Chapel and the tomb of Pope Julius II.
Rivalry against Leonardo
While some people know Michelangelo as one of the Ninja turtles, where in the cartoon has a brother named Leonardo, their real-life counterparts were far from friends. He and Leonardo da Vinci were artistic rivals with different beliefs and approaches to art, but they shared a deep understanding of anatomy.
Politics
Although he did not hold positions in the government, Michelangelo was involved in different projects and being involved in political affairs. He also served as a military engineer and even worked as a diplomat.
Struggling with depression
Michelangelo is one of the earlier artists who was open about his depression, which wasn’t as expected during that time. His feelings and struggles were expressed in his poetry and writing works.
Lifelong learning
Michelangelo remained a student throughout his life as he continued to study anatomy. He even dissected cadavers to properly understand how the body worked and different aspects of the human body.
Longevity
Michelangelo lived to be 88 years old, which, during the Renaissance, was considered impressive since most European elite’s life expectancy was just 54 years old in 1400. Even as an older man, the artist continued to work on art projects until he passed away.
Lastly
Michelangelo is one of many artists during the Renaissance who contributed significantly to that period, even influencing the style and having their work remembered for centuries. Now, many centuries later, many people still know him for his work and his contribution not just to art, but also to the Catholic Church.
