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Michelangelo or “il divino” (the divine one) is one of the most famous Renaissance artists. He didn’t use mathematics or proportions to create his work like Leonardo yet his understanding of the human anatomy and nature allowed him to create spectacular sculptures and paintings. For this reason, the debate has arisen whether he is more famous for his paintings or sculptures. To answer this question, we must first analyze his most famous works to decide.

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The Sistine Chapel ceiling is undoubtedly Michelangelo’s most famous work. This ceiling is a fresco or compilation of frescoes that depict the most important scenes of the Old Testament. Michelangelo gives viewers not only just art, but a narrative. The ceiling can be divided into three main stories beginning chronologically at the altar. It starts with the creation of Heaven and Earth, then onto the creation of Adam and Eve, and finally the story of Noah’s Ark. The sides of the ceiling are depictions of the genealogy of Jesus and their family. In between the narrative and the ancestors of Jesus are other famous old testament prophets. Easily the most famous of these frescoes is the Creation of Adam which has been recreated several times in pop culture and is the flying hand of God extending down towards Adam lying on Earth. Michelangelo began work on the ceiling after Pope Julius II commissioned him in 1508. Pope Julius II is known for his funding of the arts and his desire to return Rome to its initial high status. He did so successfully as Rome became a large cultural and artistic hub and still is today.

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/renaissance-art-europe-ap/a/michelangelo-ceiling-of-the-sistine-chapel

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Bacchus is one of Michelangelo’s most famous sculptures and is also one of the earliest he created. The figure shows elements of classical influence as it is in contrapposto and is a male nude. Bacchus is a drunken got and is shown wearing a crown of grapes and a cup in his right hand and holds more grapes in his left hand. The figure isn’t exactly idealized as a traditional classical sculpture would be but the figure certainly does have some muscular definition. This is done to further emphasize the figure as a drunk. To the figure’s left is a satyr(A man-goat hybrid) has his mouth open to receive grapes from Bacchus. The sculpture was originally intended to be displayed in the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome but was instead bought by Jacob Galli and placed in his private garden.

https://michelangelo.ace.fordham.edu/exhibits/show/bacchus/bacchus2

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Michelangelo’s two slaves were commissioned by Pope Julius II for his tomb. This tomb was intended to have more than 40 figures and grand. The new tomb was redesigned with only 3 figures: two slaves and Moses. The actual tomb did not need the two slaves and were held in storage separately. The “dying slave” is a figure who shows tremendous emotion with his eyes closed and hand on his chest almost in a state of transcendence. The “rebellious slave” displays emotion as well as he is shackled and attempting to be freed. He looks up at God for help or for mercy. The two figures juxtapose each other displaying peace and tranquillity with the dying slave, and pain and struggling with the rebellious one. Both are male nudes which intrinsically classical and have immense detail.

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-ren-florence-rome/michelangelo/v/michelangelo-the-dying-slave-and-the-rebellious-slave-1513-15

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Pieta Rondanini is Michelangelo’s last project before he died. Being a Pieta, it is a depiction of the Virgin Mary with a dead Christ in her arms. This sculpture displays a change in his style throughout the years and is much more abstract when compared to his earlier idealized sculptures. The two figures are incredibly close to each other and almost form one figure which shows Mary’s connection to Jesus. Michelangelo himself lost his mother at the age of 6 and depictions of Mary and Jesus were extremely personal for him as they reminded him of his own mother. It makes sense that the last work Michelangelo wanted to work on before he died would remind him of his mother. It would’ve been an impressive sculpture had it been completed and show his transition in style.

https://www.michelangelo.net/rondanini-pieta/

http://www.michelangeloexperience.com/2010/09/the-rondanini-pieta/

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After looking at some of Michelangelo’s most famous works, it still isn’t really clear which profession he should be known as. With Michelangelo’s extreme fame and his lasting legacy it is important to recognize what the artist would have wanted to be known as. Via a quick google search of Michelangelo’s most famous works we find that the overwhelming majority of them are sculptures with of course the occasional exceptions. Michelangelo was extremely talented at both but I believe he would’ve wanted to be known as a sculptor. His defense of sculpture from Leonardo and his belief that all blocks of stone had statues inside of them waiting to be discovered show us his undying passion for sculpture.