(1964) MiNr. 2030 A ** - Hungary - Michelangelo (1475-1564), Italian sculptor, painter and architect

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564): the genius of Renaissance art

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on 6 March 1475 in Caprese, near Arezzo. He is one of the most important figures of the Italian Renaissance, not only as a sculptor but also as a painter, architect and poet. His work profoundly influenced the shape of European art and aesthetic thought.

In sculpture, Michelangelo strove for the perfect depiction of the human figure. His early masterpieces such as Pietta (1499) and David (1501-1504) are notable for their precise treatment of anatomy, dramatic expression and profound symbolism. In both cases, the works are made from a single block of marble.

He is the author of the extensive murals on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican (1508-1512), where he depicted scenes from the Book of Genesis. He later added a fresco of the Last Judgement (1536-1541) to the back wall of the same chapel. These works show Michelangelo's ability to work with space, composition and the symbolism of the human body.

In the field of architecture, his most important work is the design for the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, which he executed late in life. Although he did not live to see its completion, his plan determined the shape of the building for the next hundred years.

Michelangelo died in Rome on 18 February 1564. He was buried in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, the city that shaped his early artistic development. His legacy endures as a symbol of the Renaissance ideal - the fusion of artistic virtuosity, spiritual depth and the human desire for perfection.