5 surprising facts about Michelangelo

When David was first commissioned, no one anticipated the hype that it would produce, so it was initially assigned to be displayed on a Florence rooftop. However, because of its popularity, it was decided to move the statue to a more prominent location. The statue stood in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, where it stood for nearly 400 years before being moved to its present location at the Gallery of the Academy.

Michelangelo didn’t usually sign his work but, as the story goes, as he was working on Pieta, various onlookers attributed it to different artists. Wary of this prospect, Michelangelo carved his name across Mary’s chest, an act he would later regret.

This most impressive feat consisted of 300 figures across a 12,000 square feet surface. It is one of the most impressive works of art in history in scope as well as depth.

While painting the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo had huge doubts about his abilities and even considered that he might have been set up to be humiliated. The project was originally supposed to only feature the 12 apostles. Luckily he persisted and the work expanded into the artistic wonder that it is today.

Looking at the rose-colored fabric that surrounds God and Eve in this creation, one could be forgiven for thinking that it resembles a human brain. This theory was first put forth in 1990 by a doctor from Indiana. He even pointed out other anatomically evocative imagery such as the green scarf that can be interpreted as the vertebral artery.