Michelangelo: The Architect

Because of his historic fame as a painter and sculptor, the artist, christened Michelangelo di Lodovico di Lionardo di Buonarroti Simoni, is often overlooked for the inspired architect that he was. In fact, in his time, Michelangelo's treatment of the principles of classical architecture was regarded as rebellious and termed "licentious," but today his achievements in the arts of structure are considered expansive and even profound.

It was as an apprentice that Michelangelo was discovered by Lorenzo de' Medici, known to all Florence as Lorenzo the Magnificent. A great patron of the arts, perhaps the greatest, he took Michelangelo into his home and educated him along with his own children taking great care to further the young talent's enthusiasm for the arts. The rest is history, as they say, and Michelangelo went on to become one of the greatest artists the world has ever known. His work in painting and sculpture is undisputed as genius. Yet, his fame as an artist sometimes eclipses his talent as an architect.

It was the Medici family who commissioned Michelangelo to design the New Sacristy, the family's mausoleum, as the Medici Library in Florence, though he never regarded himself as an architect by profession. The first of his large-scale forays into architecture, they already reflect a mastery of the classical principles along with that something else—that artistic flair that belonged to this master of the arts. Here, he marked his works with a deliberate move away from classical norms. For instance, he chose contrasting materials to annunciate his architectural framework—a choice that showed more sophistication rather than a churlish breaking of the established rules.

Michelangelo's work on the library complex and his plans for the rare books room (never built) reveal his preoccupation with the function of each aspect of space. His stamp on Florentine architecture at this point already influenced the next generation of Florence's architects who embraced Michelangelo's originality of design. Michelangelo's cornices, foundations, bases, doors, tombs and tabernacles all broke free from the confining traditional styles "but they are more than novelty because their forms are suited to function and perform their roles with beauty that is reminiscent of classical forms, but convey that extra spark of ingenuity.

While other architects of the day also began to break free from established norms, none were more influential than Michelangelo. His fame guaranteed an audience for his work; consequently, many eyes were upon all that he created and word spread about his new techniques. It was as if he used classical architecture only as the springboard to launch his architectural ambitions that were inevitably embraced as all his work seemed to be. Because of his breaks with tradition, even today's architects must pay homage to this great who made rule-breaking an established mode of the arts.