Legacy Michelangelo

michelangelo s tomb in basilica of santa croce, florence.

michelangelo, leonardo da vinci , raphael, 1 of 3 giants of florentine high renaissance. although names cited together, michelangelo younger leonardo 23 years, , older raphael eight. because of reclusive nature, had little either artist , outlived both of them more forty years. michelangelo took few sculpture students. employed francesco granacci, fellow pupil @ medici academy, , became 1 of several assistants on sistine chapel ceiling. michelangelo appears have used assistants more manual tasks of preparing surfaces , grinding colours. despite this, works have great influence on painters, sculptors , architects many generations come.

while michelangelo s david famous male nude of time , destined reproduced in order grace cities around world, of other works have had perhaps greater impact on course of art. twisting forms , tensions of victory, bruges madonna , medici madonna make them heralds of mannerist art. unfinished giants tomb of pope julius ii had profound effect on late-19th- , 20th-century sculptors such rodin , henry moore.

michelangelo s foyer of laurentian library 1 of earliest buildings utilise classical forms in plastic , expressive manner. dynamic quality later find major expression in michelangelo s centrally planned st peter s, giant order, rippling cornice , upward-launching pointed dome. dome of st peter s influence building of churches many centuries, including sant andrea della valle in rome , st paul s cathedral, london, civic domes of many public buildings , state capitals across america.

artists directly influenced michelangelo include raphael, imitated michelangelo s prophets in 2 of works, including depiction of great master in school of athens. other artists, such pontormo, drew on writhing forms of last judgement , frescoes of capella paolina.

the sistine chapel ceiling work of unprecedented grandeur, both architectonic forms, imitated many baroque ceiling painters, , wealth of inventiveness in study of figures. vasari wrote:

the work has proved veritable beacon our art, of inestimable benefit painters, restoring light world centuries had been plunged darkness. indeed, painters no longer need seek new inventions, novel attitudes, clothed figures, fresh ways of expression, different arrangements, or sublime subjects, work contains every perfection possible under headings.