FIF 644 - Michelangelo: Life, Art and Legacy

Course Description

Michelangelo is widely regarded as the most notable artist of the Italian High Renaissance. His brilliance is apparent in every medium in which he worked and with every tool he used. His remarkable achievements in painting, sculpture and architecture define and embody the Italian Renaissance. We will explore Michelangelo’s life, work and legacy, and the nature and extent of his influence on subsequent generations. We will examine in detail Michelangelo’s key works, such as the “David” and “Pieta” statues, as well as the Sistine Chapel frescoes. We’ll also examine his influence on the artistic traditions of Mannerism (or the Late Renaissance) and the Baroque.

Course Details

By the completion of this course, successful students will be able to:

• Describe Michelangelo’s biography
• Demonstrate a familiarity with Michelangelo’s principal works in sculpture, painting, and architecture
• Explain Michelangelo’s art in terms of its historical, religious, and iconographic context
• Apply artistic vocabulary to explore art objects and elements of style