Did you know that Michelangelo designed the fortifications for his hometown, the city of Florence?

 Did you know that Michelangelo designed the fortifications for his hometown, the city of Florence?

Michelangelo is one of the world’s most famous sculptors and painters of all time.

The Italian renaissance artist influenced the future of Western art and was one of the most successful living artists of his time.

Michelangelo’s works can be seen across Italy, but the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City is the most known.

Here are 10 magnificent facts about Michelangelo.

Michelangelo is known primarily for his sculptures and famous painting in the Sistine Chapel, but he also wrote.

There are around 300-500 poems of his that still exist today as evidence of his ability for creative writing.

During his lifetime, it is estimated that he wrote several hundred sonnets and madrigals.

A common theme across his written work was sex and romance. He also covered the act of aging. He even wrote some poems about his overactive bladder!

None of Michelangelo’s poems or sonnets were formally published during his lifetime.

Despite this, the odd one that did circulate was very popular across 16th-century literati.

When Michelangelo was commissioned to paint the inside of the Sistine Chapel, he was known for his sculpting work.

He dabbled in painting, but it was not his specialty.

Pope Julius chose Michelangelo because another Renaissance painter had recommended him. Raphael saw an opportunity to sabotage Michelangelo’s career by putting him forward.

Knowing that painting was not his specialized medium, Raphael suggested Michelangelo be a good fit, hoping that it would be a disaster and sabotage Michelangelo’s career as an artist.

Raphael was originally chosen by the Pope to complete the work but set up Michelangelo for failure.

Michelangelo knew this would be a challenge and at first hesitated in accepting the job offer.

Eventually, he accepted it, and the masterpiece took four years to complete.