Born Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni in 1475, he has had unparalleled influence on the development of western art. Well known for his painting and sculpture, he was also an architect of exceptional ability and creativity. His designs for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitoline Square), and the complex of buildings in Florence surrounding the Church of San Lorenzo remain among the greatest achievements of Italian Renaissance architecture. Michelangelo’s architectural work is distinguished by his sculptural use of moldings to achieve great depth, strength and delicacy.
