ninja turtles... chop.. chop...

Talking about Florentine art... I will not be forgiven if ... I dun mention ... Michelangelo!!! The greatest son of Florence, Italy... his influence is everywhere. I believe, as a painter Botticelli is a good match for Michelangelo... I also think many have overrated Michelangelo... he is no doubt.. extremely good... however the Catholic church influence at that time made him a superstar. As a painter ... or sculptor... by its own merit... he can be outdone by a few... BUT as a painter AND sculptor... and as an ARTIST... there is no match.

As with Botticelli, Michelangelo started young... working with his family business... stonecutters. He learned his craft through the hard way... beginning a life-long affair with stone.. marble. His father gave him a difficult time, suppressing his talent and skill... his mother was sick most of the time. But this dude has great ambitions... and god given skills. Roaming the gardens and city streets... he slowly found inspiration and worked his way to the top. A lot of great Florentine masters were around to influence his work or guide him.. Bertoldo di Giovanni, Donatello, Lorenzo and many others.

I still think he is a better sculptor than painter... he is most remembered for the Sistine Chapel... but his marble figures are more outstanding and immensely inspirational.

p.s. Happy New Year all... :D




MichelangeloRebellious Slave - 1513-16, Musee du Louvre, Paris

Michelangelo Dying Slave1513-16 Louvre Museum, Paris