Man Made Magic: Private Tour of Michelangelo's Rome

We visit all the sites in Rome where Michelangelo Buonarotti's most important works of art and architecture can be seen. Michelangelo arrived in Rome from Florence on June 25th, 1496 at the age of 21 to sculpt "Bacchus" for Cardinal Raffaele Sansoni Galeoti Riario, a commission which was rejected outright. From his "Bacchus" (1497) and the Pietà (1499), we are able to date Michelangelo's first steps in Rome with precision. We learn about his influence and position at the helm of the High Renaissance movement, we ask why he decided to destroy most of his work in old age, we debate his commissions for the Medici family in Florence, and consider his jealousy of Raphael. This tour covers the grandiose St. Peter's Basilica, dome, cupola and Pietà, his "Genesis" above the Sistine Chapel (1508-1512) and "Last Judgement" behind the altar (commissioned by Pope Clement VII), the Vatican Museums, Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), the heavily revised Tomb of Pope Julius II and central "Moses" in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains), and his unusual sculpture of Christ ("The Redeemer") in the church of Santa Maria sopra la Minerva. We discuss the influence upon him of the Laocoon Group. Michelangelo captured the essence of humanity, he was able to immortalize his subjects on canvas and cut beauty into marble. His work was glorious and proffers an omnipotent air.
Michelangelo's legacy in Rome continues to be defined by his work on the dome of St. Peter's Church, which was still in it's early stages when he died. His close circle of associates and assistants completed the structure in the year 1590. Between the time of Michelangelo's original drawings in 1547 and his death in 1564, work was ponderous, but during the reign of Pope Sixtus IV, progress was remarkable. However, Michelangelo's magnum opus, the Tomb of Pope Julius II, became an affliction of some magnitude and dominated over forty years of his long life. Michelangelo's many commissions between Rome and Florence ensured prolonged delays and a succession of alterations, the culmination of which was unfinished and unsatisfactory work. The sculpture was eventually moved into the comparatively humble surroundings of the church of San Pietro in Vincoli, instead of the Sistine Chapel or St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Julius II was buried beneath St. Peter's upon his death in 1513, and his tomb is known as "Michelangelo's Moses", with little or no reference afforded it's original purpose.
Our private Michelangelo tour details the Renaissance man's life and work in Rome in depth. We also visit the area where it is believed he lived, close to Trajan's Column.