The narrator of this film, Tim Marlow, did a wonderful job of keeping my attention with his eloquent descriptions of Michelangelo's work, intertwined with a myriad of facts. Even though the majority of the coverage was about his sculptures (slightly ironic for a class entitled "Films About Paintings"), the material was both entertaining and educational. I hope to see more of this narrator (who, according to the film credits, also wrote the documentary) in future assignments.
Marlow's story begins in 1475, in Caprese, a town about 50 miles south of Florence. At a young age, it was obvious to his father that Michelangelo was more geared towards the arts, rather than his studies, as he spent endless hours drawing. So, he was sent to begin his training as a painter in Florence. At only 14 years old, he went to the Medici Academy where he was introduced to the beauty of sculpting. His unusual talent developed so quickly, that Lorenzo deMedici, ruler of Florence at the time, moved him into his palace and put him on salary. At only 17, he created his first sculpture, the "Battle of the Centaurs". This marble creation was said to have conveyed power, sensuality, violence and movement. Not bad for chipped rock.
Michelangelo found inspiration to sculpt in the ruins of Rome, although he admitted to his father that he found the city rather corrupt. In 1497, he was commissioned to create a sculpture for the French Papal Ambassador. Michelangelo's "Pieta" was a prime example of "demonstrating his skill at transforming marble into drapery and human flesh" as Narrator, Tim Marlow described.
In 1504, Michelangelo returned to Florence where he created the infamous sculpture of "David", the giant slayer. Marlow offered "... David perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Renaissance. A fusion of classical ideas and the values of Christianity". Well, this 4+ meter statue certainly made a statement. When the statue was revealed, it received a public 'stoning' from protesters who deemed the fully nude male inappropriate. But, even critics couldn't deny, this amazing recreation of the human form was a masterpiece.
The most interesting part of this film was the story of Michelangelo paintings in the Sistene Chapel. I am in awe of the task that he undertook when he agreed to create these frescoes, and hope to see it for myself someday. The ceiling, which took more than 4 years to paint, includes 9 scenes from the book of Genesis and was unlike anything that have ever been done before. He was celebrated for his use of perspective, the iridescent colors and the way he captured the human form. It was also noted that much of the painting held an air of sensuality. Later in life, Michelangelo returned to the Sistene Chapel (some theories suggest he returned during his quest for salvation, as found himself guilty of many 'sins of the flesh') to paint a Fresco entitled "The Last Judgement". Some critics found the naked saints to be offensive. Another artist was later hired to paint loin cloths over some of the figures exposed parts. But, personally, I feel the images he managed to capture are breathtakingly beautiful.
My father played a huge part in my love of the arts, and even though whittling didn't stick, I am grateful he didn't stop there. Thanks, Dad, for the trips to the art museums, the opera, symphonies on the radio that filled the living room on Sundays, and for not pushing the whittling issue. Like Michelangelo, I was able to explore the arts with just a bit of guidance from my father.
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