Michelangelo Buonarroti: The Most Influential Renaissance Artist

When people spend a lifetime building something, whether it be a business or a reputation, it is not uncommon to wish to see that legacy live on through their children. This desire stems from man’s longing for immortality, and the need to feel that what we have accomplished has meaning and will continue long after we have passed. Whatever future people may wish for their children, however, it is important that they allow their children to discover their passions for themselves. As we reach adulthood we are all faced with important decisions that will ultimately shape what kind of person we will become as adults, and simply following a path that someone else had laid out rather than forging our own path is to deny ourselves of the opportunity to discover who we truly are as well as the pursuit of something that brings joy to our lives.

However, his path to becoming an artist was far from simple. According to Condivi, Michelangelo was a bright child and his father, who worked for the local government, sent him to school in Florence (9). Michelangelo achieved modest success in school, but his passion was art, and this constantly distracted him from his studies. His father and his father’s brothers found this a most unworthy pursuit, and Symonds writes that they “often used to beat him severely” (4). Despite their vehement objections, Michelangelo remained obstinate in his endeavor until his father relented and sent Michelangelo to Ghirlandaio’s workshop (5). Michelangelo’s choice set him on a path that is known to all with even a cursory knowledge of art, but would not be possible if he had simply accepted the fate his father attempted to force upon