What Michelangelo Told Pope Julius II
The surprising insight from a Renaissance genius
In 1501 Michelangelo was commissioned by the Opera del Duomo to turn a massive block of marble into the 17-feet high statue of the biblical figure David that can now be seen at Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Italy.
It took Michelangelo, then 26 years old, over two years to finish the sculpture, depicting David defiantly draping his sling over his left shoulder and staring decisively into the distance before the battle with Goliath.
When Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to explain his genius and how he created his masterpiece he responded:
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Fewer Better Things to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.