Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564)
RA Collection: People and Organisations
Born in 1475 in the Republic of Florence, the Italian artist Michelangelo was long celebrated as the greatest practitioner of the three visual arts of sculpture, painting and architecture. He was also a respected poet, although in spite of his various achievements the artist considered himself primarily as a sculptor.
One of the chief creators of the High Renaissance, Michelangelo’s fame in his own lifetime was unprecedented. He was the first Western artist whose biography was published during his lifetime, most importantly by the influential Giorgio Vasari who claimed Michelangelo as the culmination of Renaissance art. Michelangelo was considered the supreme exponent of the Florentine disegno, a term meaning both drawing and the intellectual ability to make a design. Michelangelo’s art is particularly regarded for its terribilità, a term indicative of heroic and awe-inspiring grandeur, although as his range of interests indicates, he has also been taken as an exemplar of the rounded Renaissance genius.
The power and originality of Michelangelo’s art has guaranteed his prominence as a historical figure for over 400 years since his death. His champions included the RA’s first President, Sir Joshua Reynolds, whose lectures set out his vision of Michelangelo as an example for British artists to aspire to. Michelangelo’s work was well-known in Britain, whether through collections of his drawings being assembled by connoisseurs such as Sir Thomas Lawrence (another RA President) or the many prints made after works such as his Last Judgement fresco in the Sistine Chapel, from the 16th century onwards. The acquisition of Michelangelo’s Taddei Tondo by the RA in the nineteenth century was particularly significant as it provided an example of Michelangelo’s sculpture which Academicians could study.
Profile
Born: 1475
Died: 18 February 1564
Gender: Male
Works by Michelangelo Buonarroti in the RA Collection
49 results
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Creation of Eve, Sistine Chapel., 1772
Engraving and etching
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Temptation and Expulsion from Eden, Sistine Chapel., 1772
Engraving and etching
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Creation of Adam, Sistine Chapel.', 1772
Engraving and etching
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Title-page, 1771
Engraving and etching
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Virgin and Child with the Infant St John, ca. 1504-05
Marble relief
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
O33455, 1570-5
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Persian Sibyl, 1570-5
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
O33453, 1570-5
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Eritrean Sibyl, 1570-5
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Saint Catherine of Alexandria and other Saints, 1803
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Saints and the Martyrs, 1803
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Good Samaritan and Saints, 1803
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Ascension to Heaven of the Elect, 1803
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Fall of the Damned, 1803
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Blessed
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Christ and the Madonna, 1803
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Brazen Serpent, c.1550
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Right Lunette with symbols of the passion. , 1803
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Fac-simile of some poetry in the handwriting of Michelangelo' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'A dragon or chimera' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Horses, and a small study for the fighting for the standard' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen and chalk lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'A study of three heads,&c.' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen and chalk lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Profile of a man's head' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'A sheet of studies' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'An old woman and a child' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The fall of Phaeton' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Michael Angelo and his friend Ant. della Torre' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'A noble head of a warrior' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Study for a drapery' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph on wove paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'A Sybil' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'A female portrait' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Chalk lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'One of the bathing figures in the cartoon of Pisa' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Marchionnes of Pescara' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Chalk lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Satan' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Study of the body of a male subject' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The upper part of the last Judgment' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Studies for the David with the Sling' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Lazarus and two other figures' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Our Lord Ascending from the tomb' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'A group' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The crucifixion' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The three crosses' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The money changers from the temple' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Virgin and Child' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti', 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Virgin, Child, and St. Elisabeth' , 1853
Pen lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Virgin, our Lord, and St John, attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti', 1853
Chalk lithograph on thin japanese paper pasted on a sheet of the album
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Holy Family' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'The Virgin' attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1853
Chalk lithograph
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
'Michael Angelo Buonaroti', 1853
Pen lithograph
Works after Michelangelo Buonarroti in the RA Collection
41 results
-
Francesco Bartolozzi RA
The Risen Christ, ca. 1785
Crayon manner engraving
-
Giulio Bonasone
Judith and Holofernes, after 1544
Engraving
-
Francesco Bartolozzi RA
Archers shooting at a Herm, ca. 1785
Crayon manner engraving
-
Attributed to Jacob Matham
Moses
Etching and engraving
-
Unknown artist and Attributed to Rosso Fiorentino and Formerly attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti
Leda and the swan, mid 16th century
Black chalk on paper
-
Francesco Bartolozzi RA
Tityus, ca. 1785
Crayon manner engraving
-
After Michelangelo Buonarroti
Twilight (reduced version of figure from the tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici, San Lorenzo, Florence), 1524-1531
Plaster cast
-
After Unknown maker
Figure of Christ from Michelangelo's 'Pieta', early 19th century
Plaster cast
-
After Michelangelo Buonarroti
Bruges Madonna, ca. 1505
Plaster cast, 19th century?
-
Francesco Bartolozzi RA and Attributed to Gregorio Francisco de Queiroz
The Last Judgment, 1801
Outline etching
-
J. Perry
'Cleopatra' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
Frederick Christian Lewis Snr.
'Study for the head of St. Bartholomew, in the painting of the last judgment' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
Frederick Christian Lewis Snr.
'Design for part of the last Jugment' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
Thomas Vivares
'A man's head's profile' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
William Long
'Three figures in conversation' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
Thomas Vivares
'A man seated in profile, reading' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
George Robert Lewis
'A head' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
George Robert Lewis
'A study for the figure of Adam in the compartment representing his creation' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
George Robert Lewis
'A man seated in profile reading' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
George Robert Lewis
'A woman dancing a child on her knee' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo, 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
George Robert Lewis
'Head in profile' and 'Herculed & Antaeus' after two drawings attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti , 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
William Young Ottley
'Two draped figures standing' after a drawing attributed to Michelangelo, 1823
Etching and aquatint in colour on j. whatman wove paper
-
James Nevay
Male nude, after a figure in Michelangelo's 'Last Judgement', 1772
Pencil and white chalk on buff laid paper
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Prophet Ezekiel, [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Delphic Sibyl, [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Prophet Daniel, [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Prophet Joel , [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Cumaean Sibyl , [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Prophet Isaiah , [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Libyan Sibyl, [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Persian Sibyl , [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Erythraean Sibyl, [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Prophet Zechariah, [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Prophet Jonah , [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Tommaso Piroli
Title-page, [1800?]
Etching
-
Conrad Martin Metz
Studies of legs, 1789
Crayon-manner etching
-
James Nevay
Female nude, after a figure from Michelangelo's 'Last Judgement', 1772
Pencil and white chalk on buff laid paper
-
James Nevay
Male nude, after a figure from Michelangelo's 'Last Judgement', 1772
Pencil and white chalk on buff laid paper
-
James Nevay
Male nude, after a figure in Michelangelo's 'Last Judgement', 1772
Pencil and white chalk on buff laid paper
-
Tommaso Piroli
The Prophet Jeremiah, [1800?]
Etching in colour
-
Niccolò Pagni and Giuseppe Bardi
The Holy Family with the Baptist and other Saints, 1791 [-1795]
Etching and egraving in brown on blue laid paper
Works associated with Michelangelo Buonarroti in the RA Collection
4 results
-
Conrad Martin Metz
Pietá attributed to Michelangelo, 1789
Etching and aquatint
-
Conrad Martin Metz
Head of woman and other figures in the background attributed to Michelangel, 1789
Etching and aquatint
-
From: Adolphe Braun and From: Henri Braun
Autotype photographs by Adolphe Braun & Henri Braun of Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, 1868-1870
-
Unknown
Cast of a bust of Michelangelo
Plaster
Associated books
47 results
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1475-1564.
La lettere di Michelangelo Buonarroti / pubblicate coi ricordi ed i contratti artistici per cura di Gaetano Milanesi. - Firenze :: 1875.
14/1611
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Le Rime Di Michelagnolo Buonarroti Pittore, Scultore, Architetto E Poeta Fiorentino Testo Di Lingua Italiana. - 1817.
06/3732
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Lettera Di Michelangiolo Bonarroti Per Giustificarsi Contro Le Calunnie Degli Emuli E De'Nemici Suoi Sul Proposito Del Sepolcro Di Papa Giulio II Trovata E Pubblicata Con Illustrazioni da Sebastiano Ciampi - - Firenze: 1834
06/3650
-
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Le Rime Di Michelangelo Buonarroti Pittore Scultore E Architetto Cavate Dagli Autografi E Pubblicate Da Cesare Guasti Accademico Della Crusca. - In Firenze,: [1863]
05/3116