ROME’S SISTINE CHAPEL

Born March 6, 1475 in Italy, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512. This commission from Pope Julius II portrayed the twelve apostles and had a profound influence on the development of Western art. Michelangelo was given complete artistic freedom on this project.

Along with Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, he is considered one of the three giants of Florentine High Renaissance. Because of his reclusive nature, Michelangelo had little to do with either artist and outlived both of them by more than forty years. He was the first artist ever whose biography was published while he was still alive. If you go to Rome (my favorite city in the world), take a tour of the Vatican. It’s worth it!