Michelangelo was one of the greatest artists of his time, with works such as the Sistine Chapel and his sculpture of David, earning him an enduring place in history. Amid the complex Italian politics of his time, Michelangelo navigated powerful dynasties, religious upheavals, and professional rivalries to ensure art was always the centre of his life. But what drove him to keep producing outrageously brilliant work? How did his relationship with superstar contemporaries like da Vinci and Raphael influence him? And what was the personal cost of his dedication to art?

This is a Short History Of Michelangelo.

Written by Dan Smith. With thanks to Bernadine Barnes, author of three books on Michelangelo, including ‘Michelangelo and the Viewer in his Time’.

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