Comments on: Michelangelo’s Last Drawing

By: 100swallows

100swallows — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:26:46 +0000

rich: the kid does look happy, doesn’t he? Michelangelo was probably not very happy as a child. He was farmed out to a nurse–a wet-nurse–in a mountain village and when he came home his mother had died. His father didn’t want him to become an artist and tried to discourage his drawing.
I doubt that the wavy lines were intended to make the Virgin appear to move or vibrate.
That hint of pubic hair is more than a hint–it IS surprising. In fact it is strangely designed–I can’t tell what shape. Maybe he left himself the option of cloth.

By: rich

rich — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:07:01 +0000

I like this drawing! It vibrates - that was my first impression. Then I remarked a hint of some genital hair, rather unusual for those times, and thirdly there is such a tenderness and loving embrace here.
Looks like a happy child.

By: 100swallows

100swallows — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:37:05 +0000

Yes, Aryul, and it wasn’t for just a while but for years. Great suffering. Reminds me of John Ruskin, who went mad and just sat in a chair and stared the last ten years of his life. His motto had been: work while there’s light.

By: Aryul

Aryul — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:12:50 +0000

The man never took a break. I couldn’t imagine the type of pain he went through when he knew he couldn’t draw or sculpt anymore.

By: ion danu

ion danu — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:43:45 +0000

It usually works like that, eh? the flesh betraying the spirit…