Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Renaissance artist/sculptor/ architect/poet broke boundaries with his art by capturing the beauty and majesty of the human form. From the iconic statue of David to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, his large body of work underlines his constant pursuit of artistic truth, execution and expression.  Historians do not know how to substantiate Michelangelo’s sexual identity since there was no word for “homosexual” in the 16th Century. However, the homosocial culture of the day recognized that younger men often had intimate relationships with their mentors and people knew of his love for a young nobleman, who appeared in his drawings, his journals and poetry. Interestingly, the sculptors’ descendants attempted to obscure his sexuality as early as 1620 when the artist’s references to gender in his writings were changed from male to female.  His innovative techniques, the psychological and emotional depth of his work and his influential vision make him one of the greatest artists of all time.