Michelangelo de Francesco de Neri de Miniato del Sera and Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarroti Simoni (ital. Michelangelo di Francesci di Neri di Miniato del Sera i Lodovico di Leonardo di Buonarroti Simoni); 6 March 1475 — 18 February 1564) Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, thinker. One of the greatest masters of the Renaissance.
Main article: chronology of the life of Michelangelo BuonarrotiMichelangelo was born on 6 March 1475 in the Tuscan town of Caprese near Arezzo, in the family of Ludovico Buonarroti, city Councilor. In childhood he was educated in Florence, then lived for some time in the town of Settignano.
In 1488 Michelangelo's father accepted the son's inclinations, and put him apprentice in the workshop of the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio. He worked there for one year. A year later, Michelangelo became the student of the sculptor Bertoldo di Giovanni, which existed under the patronage of Lorenzo de ' Medici, the actual owner of Florence.
Medici recognize the talent of Michelangelo and protected by him. For a time Michelangelo lived in the Medici Palace. After the death of the Medici in 1492, Michelangelo returned home.
In 1496 cardinal Rafael Riario buys marble "Cupid" by Michelangelo and invites the artist to work in Rome.
Michelangelo died on February 18 1564 in Rome. Buried in the Church of Santa Croce in Florence. Before his death he dictated a will with all his characteristic reticence: "I give my soul to God, body to the ground, the property of the native".
