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El Greco

 

            
             Many people criticized Michelangelo for painting the Sistine Chapel . It really tainted his image as a painter. He was criticised for the way he positioned the figures and for the way he painted them. They were very erotically displayed. The nude figures gave offence. It was seen as pagan and Neoplatonic2. The Last Judgement3 was the most erotic painting, which was placed in the centre; it had a lot of prominence. After all this fiasco, Michelangelo was denounced in 1549 as an "inventor of filthiness, who cared more for art than for devotion." After his death loin clothes were painted on the figures. Contemporaries called his art and personality his terribilita4.
             An author that knew both Michelangelo and El Greco decided to write about the lives of artists. His name was Giorgio Vasari. He idolized Michelangelo as an artist and to revere him as a man. Michelangelo too valued and encouraged his friendship. In his book, The Lives of Artists, Giorgio Vasari seemed very impressed by Michelangelo's works of art. He was especially excited about the Sistine Chapel. He named Michelangelo a perfectionist. Vasari stated that Michelangelo's work was the beacon of our art. He also mentioned that any other painter should not waste their time coming up with innovations and inventions, or new poses as Michelangelo has already done it in perfection. He was also thrilled about the fact that Michelangelo created nudes of different body sizes and in different poses. According to the book Lives of Artists by Giorgio Vasari, Michelangelo was also said to have the gift of poetic expression. He also said that Michelangelo was a renaissance man, as he was a great sculptor, painter and architect that ever lived. In spite of all those comments Vasari does criticize him for inability to paint portraits. .
             These criticisms look to be very positive. Vasari really enjoyed the work of Michelangelo and thought that it was a very progressive form of art.


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