A BIT IN DEEP: MICHELANGELO

The first stay in Rome of Michelangelo dates back to 1496-1501.

During this period, he sculpted the famous Pietà Vaticana.
He was recalled to Rome by Pope Julius II in 1505 and fled from Rome, accusing the Pope of wanting his death. Julius II was unexpectedly patient enough to get him back to court, where, however, our hero had made a good number of enemies.

Meanwhile, it was 1506, in the Baths of Titus was found the Laocoon group, spectacular testimony of Hellenistic art of the second period ( 240-150 a. C), which states a new style evidenced by the plastic torsion of the muscle mass, in order to achieve those effects of drama and expressiveness absent in classical art.

Pope Julius II saved the Laocoon in the Vatican making him bring in the Belvedere courtyard , along with many other ancient sculptures.

Michelangelo began work on the Sistine Chapel in the middle of 1508 and it is plausible that the monumental Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel was inspired by Hellenistic art in general and in particular by the Laocoon.

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