Michelangelo: The sculptor who changed Italy's architecture

Exactly 550 years ago, yesterday, Michelangelo was born.

But he didn't just sculpt David and paint the Sistine Chapel — what’s not talked about enough is his gift to Italian architecture.

Rome and Florence simply wouldn't be the same without this man... 🧵

Sistine Chapel, Vatican City (1473)

The "Last Judgement" is arguably Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece.

But when he was first offered the opportunity to paint the chapel, he almost refused.

He was a sculptor, not a painter, after all...

From start to finish, the whole project took just 4 years to complete.

Though, Michelangelo didn't like his experience one bit: he even wrote a poem sharing his discomfort to his friend Giovanni:

“[My] spine’s all knotted from folding myself over.”

The number of frescoes you see here is staggering — they cover 12,000 square feet.

Michelangelo painting all of these (largely) by himself, whilst standing up, not laying down as commonly believed.

2. St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City (1506)

The building you see today isn't the original basilica, it dates back to the Renaissance.

And Michelangelo wasn't the only great architect to build it.

In fact, he only took over, aged 71, after the death of Bramante and Raphael.

St Peter's basilica would become the largest church, in the world, and would also have the tallest dome, in the world.

Inspired by both the Pantheon and Florence's Duomo.

For perspective, you could fit the Statue of Liberty inside and still have 100ft (30m) of space left over.

The size and scale is really impressive.

Look at the letters. They seem normal — but in reality, they're 8 feet tall.

3. Laurentian Library, Florence (1559)

One of the greatest example of Mannerist architecture.

It was built inside the Basilica of San Lorenzo and atop two stories of existing monasteries.

You might have been wondering where the books are if there are no shelves.

Well, they were actually stored underneath the wooden benches.

And there was also a catalog on the side of each one.

Even though Michelangelo left for Rome in 1534, he later sent a drawing for its magnificent staircase.

Which he would, unfortunately, never get to see for himself.

4. Courtyard of the Palace of Farnese, Rome (1513)

The palace's initial design was by Antonio the Younger but Michelangelo took over after his death, in 1546.

He completed the third floor and added a majestic cornice, producing one of the most iconic courtyards, in Italy.

5. Porta Pia, Rome (1561)

This would be one of Michelangelo's last works.

It is said that Michelangelo had 3 initial designs of the gate but they were all seen as too extravagant by the Pope.

So he chose the cheapest of the three — the one you see today.

6. Medici Chapel, Florence (1555)

You might not have know but Michelangelo worked on the Laurentian Library and the Medici Chapel at the same time.

But he never really got to finish this one, partly due to political instability and the exile of Medici, in 1527.

7. Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome (1546)

In 1536, Michelangelo was tasked with redesigning Capitoline Hill.

In 10 years, he transformed the piazza and reoriented the square 180 degrees to face St Peter's Basilica.

The space also appeared bigger because of the trapezoidal design.

At the center of the Piazza, stands a replica of the ancient bronze equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Michelangelo designed the pedestal it stands on today.

8. Basilica di San Lorenzo, Florence (1470)

In 1516, the Pope entrusted Michelangelo to design a grand façade for the basilica.

He said it would be the “mirror of architecture and sculpture of all Italy.”

3 years later, the project was unfortunately abandoned all together.

And that’s the wonders of Michelangelo.

“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all.”

Until Next Time,

World Scholar