Artist · 1475 – 1564
Michelangelo
Little-Known Facts
- He considered himself primarily a sculptor and reluctantly accepted the commission to paint the Sistine ceiling.
- His detailed anatomical studies, based on dissections, gave his figures their powerful realism.
Myths & Misconceptions
Did Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel lying on his back?
He actually painted standing on scaffolding, craning upward — uncomfortable, but not lying down, contrary to the popular image.