![]() ![]() Battling against ill health, financial difficulties, domestic problems, the pope's impatience, and a bitter rivalry with the brilliant young painter Raphael, Michelangelo created scenes so beautiful that they are considered one of the greatest masterpieces of all time. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling recounts the four extraordinary years Michelangelo spent laboring over the vast ceiling while the power politics and personal rivalries that abounded in Rome swirled around him. With little experience as a painter (though famed for his sculpture David ), Michelangelo was reluctant to begin the massive project. Nigel Crockford on Leonardo da Vinci vs.In 1508, despite strong advice to the contrary, the powerful Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel. Who’s Who in t… on The Last Judgment by Michelang…īest 21 Gates Of Hel… on Michelangelo’s Portrait… They told him about a Florentine sculptor named Michelangelo Buonarroti.ġ00swallows on Five Old and Broken Statues, M…Įrikatakacs on Five Old and Broken Statues, M…īlog Two: Michelange… on Another Flaw in the Pietà? He would make some kind of monument to his Uncle Sixtus. Peter’s and make it the greatest temple in the world. He was going to get back for the papacy the pieces of Italy Borgia had let go and drive out all the foreign powers. He was elected pope and right away started carrying out plans he knew so well he didn’t even have to write them down. This time Julius had his way with the cardinals. For days the cardinals couldn’t decide on a pope and finally elected an old cardinal by the name of Piccolomini (Pius III). Borgia had stacked the College of Cardinals with his own kind (and kin), and there was a Medici in the running too. But again, the third time, he didn’t have his way. When Innocent died, in spite of all Julius’ politicking and pressuring and bribing, his arch-enemy Rodrigo Borja (Borgia, as he was called in Italy) was elected and Julius was in for several years of hard times and exile.īorgia died finally, and suddenly, and Julius came running to Rome for the enclave. At that he succeeded: Innocent VIII became pope and Julius did the actual ruling for him. He knew he didn’t yet have the clout to become pope himself so he tried the next best thing: to get a man elected who would follow his advice. Julius turned out to be not just good but brilliant at all these skills and he became the Pope’s confidant.īy the time his uncle died, Julius had learned what could be done at the top and he naturally wanted to try his hand. He also told him to get an army together and battle a little for the papacy. Sixtus called the boy to Rome and taught him how to rule. And right away the uncle, Sixtus IV, made the lad a cardinal and gave him a few bishoprics-six in France and three in Italy, plus some juicy abbeys and other church rents-so he might live as befits a cardinal, a Renaissance cardinal. Luck had it, if there is luck, that his uncle had become pope when Julius was twenty. Julius was rich, though he had started out as poor as a monk. Both had had uncle popes who favored them, brought them to Rome, made rich princes out of them and introduced them to the power game. He and Borgia understood each other perfectly: they were two of a kind. Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Lanzol, called Borgia) by Cristofano dell’Altissimo (1525–1605) ![]() He spent ten years outside of Italy, in exile, doing all he could to get that Spaniard Borgia off the papal throne. He had waited years to become pope, politicking around, pulling all the strings, bribing cardinals for their vote, bearing arms even. Pope Julius II (on a coin, above, left) was Michelangelo’s greatest patron.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |