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The Doni Tondo

Doni Tondo by Michelangelo

A common misconception of Michelangelo was he was not trained as a painter before he painted the Sistine Ceiling. He was a sculptor, people trumpet, not a painter.

It is true that Michelangelo specialized in an preferred sculpture, particularly stone sculpture. But like all Renaissance artists, Michelangelo was trained in many types of art. If a client wanted a statue, he (and his assistants) would carve a statue. If they wanted a painting, they would make a painting. This picture is an oil painting Michelangelo painted for Agnolo Doni when Angelo got married. This was a a year or so before Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to redo the Sistine Chapel.

As far as fresco painting "not being his art", that is true and false. Michelangelo studied with Domenico Ghirlandaio who was the greatest fresco artist in Florence and so saw and learned fresco painting from the master. It does appear, though, that Michelangelo was not just a normal apprentice but was more of a private student who landed the privileged (and cushy) position through the influence of his father who was a second cousin of Lorenzo de Medici. Such connections, then as now, could give you a leg up in getting started in a profession.

That said, fresco was not Michelangelo's specialty, and it is a very demanding and unforgiving technique. And it is also true that much of the painting himself. But to help out "Miracle of the Sistine", Michelangelo had a few things to help out the divine intercession. One was a virtually unlimited budget - courtesy of the Pope. And the other - a by-product of the Pope's deep pocket - was the ability to hire - yes, hire - five fresco specialists who had trained under his old teacher.

Oil on Canvas Board

 

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