Oil and Marble: A Story of Leonardo and Michaelangeloby Stephanie Storey
We’ve all heard about star crossed paths and during the
years 1501 and 1505 the paths of Leonardo DaVinci and Michaelangelo Buonarroti crossed in Florence. Leonardo was fifty years old and at the peak
of his popularity, Michaelangelo was in
his twenties and trying to make his name.
Leonardo was possessed by his desire to fly, he was
finishing none of his projects, which
didn’t endear him to his patrons and probably because of this he had just lost
the commission to carve the Duccio stone,
a commission awarded to Michaelangelo.
Michaelangelo just finished the Pieta and moved back to
Florence, where he felt he could make his name.
His family disowned him because he was “just” a stone carver but he was
desperate and determined to follow his path, make his name and support his
family. He was awarded the Duccio stone,
a single piece of marble that had languished on the ground for years. It took months for the stone to speak to him
but when it finally did, Michaelangelo worked himself almost to death to bring
David to the light. The finished David was a sensation then and still is
today.
Both painter and carver are at odds in their years together
in Florence. Leonardo is suspicious of
the young sculptor and sneers at his inexperience, jealous of the award of this
commission. Michaelangelo despises
Leonardo yet knows he is in the presence of genius. While neither really tries to sabatoge the
other’s work – Leonardo is painting the Mona Lisa during this time that
Michaelangelo is carving David – there is suspicion and dread when the two must
meet and defend their work.In the end, both prevail.
This was a really interesting story of the juxtaposition of
genius. Well worth reading.
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