The Divine Michelangelo - timeline of Michelangelo's life and major works
1475 Born Michelangelo Buonarroti in Caprese, 6 March
1481 His mother died
1485 (circa) Michelangelo attended school. He was taught by humanist Francesco da Urbino (to 1488). Michelangelo's father remarried
1487 Became an apprentice to the painter Domenico Ghirlandaio
1490-92 (circa) Worked in the Medici household
1494-95 Worked in Bologna
1495 Returned to Florence, carved St John the Baptist and the Sleeping Cupid
1496-1501 Moved to Rome. Carved the Bacchus and the Rome Pietà
1501 Returned to Florence. Contracted to carve figures for the Piccolomini altar and received the commission to carve the David
1504 Completed the David. Received commission to paint the Battle of Cascina
1505 Summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II; commissioned to create the tomb for the pope. Spent eight months in the quarries of Carrara selecting marble for the tomb
1505-1545 Michelangelo worked on the tomb of Julius II on and off, in both Rome and Florence, carved Moses, the Rebellious and Dying Slaves, Rachel, and Leah
1506 Returned to Florence (April). Michelangelo and Pope Julius II reconciled in Bologna (November)
1508 Returned to Florence (February). Summoned to Rome by Pope Julius II and asked to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
1508-1512 In Rome painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (finished October 1512)
1515-1534 Spent these years working mostly for the Medici family in Florence. He designed and carved tombs for the family and also he designed the Medici Chapel
1524 Commissioned to design the Laurentian Library at San Lorenzo
1532 Visited Rome, met Tommaso de'Cavalieri - the love of his life - and presented him with gifts of drawings and poems. Signed new contract for the tomb of Pope Julius II
1536-1541 Painting the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel. Completed and unveiled in 1541
1545 Tomb of Julius II completed and installed in San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome. Still working on the Pauline Chapel frescoes (to 1550)
1546 Michelangelo appointed chief architect at St Peter's and the Farnese Palace
1550 Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Painters, Sculptors and Architects published (features Michelangelo)
1553 Ascanio Condivi's Life of Michelangelo published
1555 Michelangelo completed the Florentine Pietà
1564 Michelangelo worked on the Rondanini Pietà, which is now in Milan. 18 February - dies at home in Macel de'Corvi, Rome
