Michelangelo in Florence (1488-1494)

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born in Caprese (Italy, Tuscany) on 6th March 1475. He was a child of Francesca di Neri (1455-1481) and Lodovico di Leonardo Buonarroti. The picture shows the house in which Michelangelo was born. Michelangelo began an apprenticeship in the famous workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio in Florence, when he was 13 years old (1488). During his short apprenticeship by Ghirlandaio Michelangelo copied paintings in fresco from Giotto and Masaccio. Before Michelangelo finished the apprenticeship he left the workshop of Ghirlandaio in 1489, because Michelangelo did not get on well with his master.
	Michelangelo moved to the cloister Saint Mark in Florence. His new teacher was Bertoldo di Giovanni (1440-1491). At this time Michelangelo studied in San Marco especially antique sculptures. The picture shows the monastic church of Saint Mark. The next home of Michelangelo was the Medici-Palace. Michelangelo was invited by Lorenzo dei Medici "il Magnifico" to move from Saint Mark to the famouse palace. In October 1494 Michelangelo left Florence in great haste, because Karl VIII. and his army were in front of the gates of Florence.
Today first works of Michelangelo are exhibited in the casa Buonarroti in Florence. The most important early works are: Madonna of the Stairs, Battle of the Centaurs and finally the crucifix for Santa Spirito. Michelangelo bought the house for his nephew Leonardo. The picture shows the casa Buonarroti, where Michelangelo never lived.
	Madonna of the Stairs (Madonna della Scala) Michelangelo made this marble relief (57x40cm) in the year 1490, when he was 15 years old. Giorgio Vasari said, that this Madonna could be from Donatello.
Battle of the Centaurs Also a marble relief from Michelangelo. It is 82x91,5cm large. Probably Michelangelo made it, when he was 16 or 17 years old. Especially Michelangelo loved this work and he never sold it.
	Crucifix of Santa Spirito (Florence) Michelangelo made it 1494 for the church Santa Spirito. It is 135cm high. This work of Michelangelo shows Jesus not as a man with pain. Michelangelo created a gentle beautiful young Jesus. Maybe this is an influence of Leonardo da Vinci.

Michelangelo in Florence

from 1488 - 1494