Effortless Michelangelo: Censored, but still Heard
Posted in Uncategorized on June 7th, 2009 by jguan104
An individual so great he is known by only one name— Michelangelo. Undoubtedly one of the greatest artists of all time, Michelangelo’s works rival some of the most famous names in art. Including that of his contemporary and fellow Italian artist, Leonardo da Vinci— the artist most famous for his Mona Lisa. His many accomplishments, earned him the title II Divino, “the divine one”. He was even the first Western artist to have had a biography written about him while he was still alive. In one of the biographies, written by Giorgio Vasari, it is proposed that he was “the pinnacle of all artistic achievement since the beginning of the Reinassance”. Clearly, he had already established himself as one of the greatest individuals during the earlier years of his life alone.
His path to success began at the age of 13 when he became an apprentice to Domenico Ghirlandaio despite, initial opposition by his father. As a student, he would turn out various works of art, but only gained fame once he left to study sculpture under Bertoldo di Giovanni, a pupil of Donatello. Sculpting would become his media of choice, a task that would require him to “free the figure slumbering in the stone”. His marble sculptures, one of which is the Pieta is one of his more famous works to date. The David was Michelangelo’s next work; it also showed his technical skill and established him as a prominent sculptor- a title that initiated his interactions with the church.
Commissioned by Pope Julius II, Michelangelo was to complete a tomb for the pope himself. He would also be given the task of painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (the Papal Chapel within the Vatican). Despite his refusal to do so (mainly because he was unfamiliar with painting as a medium, as well as his poor opinion of it) he created a masterpiece that took him four years to complete. It is also important to note that to paint the ceiling, he created a unique scaffold, a wooden platform on brackets, which occupied less space, and allowed him more freedom to move. The ceiling is not only one of his best works, but also one of the most renowned artworks fabricated during the High Renaissance, as well as throughout the history of art. It also provides images as well as depictions and mythologies behind the stories in the Bible. Images that are still present today.
The completion of the ceiling caused much controversy due to the incorporation of Catholic and Humanist elements within the figures of the paintings. The two philosophies contradict and conflict with the beliefs of the other. Humanism is a philosophy generally compatible with atheism, in that it rejects reverence to mystic beliefs involved in human affairs. It is also a philosophy, which did not see the Church as intermediaries to God. The Church believed however, that being outside of the Church would prevent one from achieving Salvation.
Michelangelo, as an artist who had studied humanism, incorporated its values into the paintings on the ceiling as he had always done (i.e. the David), despite, the identity of the paintings’ commissioner being, the Pope.
The nude figures in the paintings emphasized the humanist vision that humans were potentially beautiful and good. While the Church saw humanity as essentially flawed and evil. Figures of non-biblical characters were also incorporated into the paintings. This included Sibyls or prophets, and the pagan figure of Charon, the ferryman of Hades who took souls across the world of the living and the dead. These figures further angered many followers of the Church.
In addition, he painted the altar wall of the chapel 30 years after the completion of the ceiling. This task took him an additional four years to complete. The painting commissioned by Pope Paul the IV, after the death of Pope Julius the II, is better known as the Last Judgment.
The paintings of both the ceiling and the altar, posed a threat to Catholic theology, and became a target of the counter-reformation movement (“Catholic Revival” movement). The depictions of nudity were considered sacrilegious and obscene. Michelangelo came into dispute with individuals like Cardinal Carafa and Biagio da Cesena (the Pope’s master of ceremonies).
(The disputes between Michelangelo and Cesena were evident, as Michelangelo depicted Cesena as a nude judge in the underworld, with features of a donkey, found in the corner of the painting on the altar wall.)
After his death in 1564, the genitals were obscured due to protests from Pope Paul the IV. Later the “fig-leaf” campaign of the counter-reformation movement began with Michelangelo’s works, as many of his earlier sculptures and paintings were censored, by covering the controversial parts with fig leaves or other cover-ups. By beginning with Michelangelo’s artworks, it showed how much the Church believed his art influenced others.
(Censored figure from the Last Judgment. Notice how the cloth does not seem to belong)
Despite hostility from the Church, many artists were influenced by his art. Especially, the painting of the Last Judgment, which inspired a new period in European art, called Mannerism. It would be the last legacy he left behind before his death.
So …..
Michelangelo is the greatest individual in history, creating most of his legacies while he was still alive. He not only challenged the most influential, and strongest institution in the world- the church, but he did so passively. It takes a truly amazing individual to cause such great changes without having to do much. His talent in art alone, spread to influence religion, politics, and served as inspiration for many generations that followed, who, attempt to mimic his mastery and skill. So surely, you cannot say he only influenced the history of art. It also takes a truly amazing individual to have his beliefs known despite being censored, and despite making enemies within the Church. The fact that he created one of the most renowned masterpieces of all time, in a media unfamiliar to him, also speaks greatly of his artistic talent.
His artworks however, is not the only legacy he has left behind. He has given us a new form of art, an invention (which most likely is not his only one), and words of wisdom. A great indivual who made contributions simply by doing what he loves, sticking to what he believes in and being who he is– a renaissance man.
http://artchive.com/artchive/M/michelangelo.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo
http://www.michelangelo.com/buonarroti.html