The Importance of Michelangelo's Name

We are all very familiar with Michelangelo, especially the PCC study abroad students in Florence, and most of his majestic masterpieces.  Georgio Vasari quotes, “Michelangelo acquired so much skill in his study of art that it was incredible to see his lofty concepts and difficult style, which he put into practice with such great facility that it terrified people unaccustomed to seeing such works as well as those accostumed to good ones, for the works that others were showing seemed nothing in comparison with his. “ (pg. 424) While Michelangelo’s sculpting techniques are the rarist of his time you can witness his artwork in the Saint Peter’s in the Chapel of the Madonna della Febbre, in the temple of Mars. This figure of the dead Christ stands out because its unimaginable beauty of it limbs and the way the body is carved. A nude man endowed with muscels, veins, and nerves stretched over the framework of the bones. In addition, the expression on the face is so very gentle, and there is such harmony in the joints and the articulations of the arms, torso, and legs. “Michelangelo placed so much love and labour in this work that on it he left his name written across a sash which grids Our Lady’s breast.” (pg. 425) This happened because one day he went into the church where the statue was placed and he saw a large amount of foreigners from Lombardy who were praising his statue. As he saw the foreigners praising his statue he realized that he himself was not receiving praise, but they were praising :Our Gobbo from Milian” instead. So, one night he snuck into the church and brought his carving kit and carved his name into the statue.