Michelangelo Buonarroti was one of the best artists of all history. The word "masterpiece" comes to mind with a mention of his name. Michelangelo's artwork was like none other as it captures the amazing beauty of the human condition. Michelangelo worked in a time of conflict between the powers of the Medici family in Florence and the Papacy in Rome. This conflicting period had a tremendous impact on Michelangelo's life.
             Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475 in a small village in Tuscany, known as Caprese. Despite being born in this small village, Michelangelo always thought of himself as a "son of Florence", much like his father who considered himself "a Citizen of Florence". Michelangelo's mother was sick for most of the time Michelangelo knew her. Because of this, a nurse was hired to take care of Michelangelo. His mother died when he was the young age of six. Even before this Michelangelo was deprived of affection. This attributed to his touchy, isolated mannerism. Michelangelo's father soon recognized his son's intelligence and desire to learn. By age 13, Michelangelo shocked his father when he agreed to apprentice in painter, Domenico Ghirlandaio's workshop. Michelangelo spent a year studying fresco art, and after that went to learn sculpture in a school in the Medici gardens. Soon after that Lorenzo de' Medici, the Magnificent asked Michelangelo into his home. By age 16, Michelangelo had already produced at least two relief sculptures. These two sculptures, Centaurs and the Madonna of the Stairs, illustrate how Michelangelo had already achieved a unique style at such an early age.
             Around 1495, Michelangelo left Florence and headed for Rome. There he was able to view several classical statues and ruins. Soon there after, Michelangelo created his first large sculpture, a larger than life-sized Bacchus Bargello. This is one of the...