Important People in Michelangelo's Life
Antonio da Sangallo
Architect of St. Peter’s Basilica whom Michelangelo succeeded.
Ascanio Condivi
An apprentice of Michelangelo’s and author of the biography Life of Michelangelo.
Bertoldo di Giovanni
The curator of the Medici family art collection and master of Lorenzo the Magnificent’s art school. Michelangelo’s sculpting teacher.
Cardinal Raffaele Riario
Commissioned Michelangelo to carve Bacchus.
Domenico Ghirlandaio
Florentine painter Michelangelo served under him as an apprentice at the age of 13.
Giorgio Vasari
An Italian painter and architect as well as the author of one of two biographies written about Michelangelo during his lifetime.
Leonardo da Vinci
Fellow Renaissance artist and rival.
Lodovico Buonarroti di Simoni
A judicial administrator and Michelangelo’s father.
Lorenzo Ghiberti
Artist who created The Gate of Paradise as coined by Michelangelo.
Medici
A prominent and influential family in Florence. They supported Michelangelo from the time he was a young artist.
Pope Julius II
Pope who commissioned Michelangelo to design and sculpt his tomb as well as to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Pope Leo X
A member of the Medici family. Commissioned Michelangelo to reconstruct the façade of San Lorenzo in Florence.
Pope Paul III
Commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgment on the alter wall of the Sistine Chapel as well as other works.
Vittoria Colonna
The marquise of Pescara and a poet. She was Michelangelo’s friend and subject of many of his love poems.