Studies of the upper body of a man and separate studies of an arm, a hand, and an ear; sketch of a tree, recto (detail), 1511–12, Michelangelo Buonarroti, red chalks and black chalk. Teylers Museum, Haarlem. Purchased in 1790. © Teylers Museum, Haarlem. Seated male nude, separate study of his right arm, recto (detail), 1511, Michelangelo Buonarroti, red chalk heightened with white. Teylers Museum, Haarlem, purchased in 1790. © Teylers Museum, Haarlem Studies of the upper body of a man and separate studies of an arm, a hand, and an ear; sketch of a tree, recto (detail), 1511–12, Michelangelo Buonarroti, red chalks and black chalk. Teylers Museum, Haarlem. Purchased in 1790. © Teylers Museum, Haarlem. Seated male nude, separate study of his right arm, recto (detail), 1511, Michelangelo Buonarroti, red chalk heightened with white. Teylers Museum, Haarlem, purchased in 1790. © Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Michelangelo was one of the most creative and influential artists in the history of Western art. This exhibition explores the full range of his work as a painter, sculptor, and architect through more than two dozen of his extraordinary drawings, including designs for celebrated projects such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Medici Chapel tombs, and The Last Judgment. These studies and sketches enable us to witness Michelangelo at work, and to experience firsthand his boundless creativity and his pioneering representation of the human form.

This exhibition has been organized by the Teylers Museum, Haarlem in collaboration with the J. Paul Getty Museum and The Cleveland Museum of Art. It is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

The presentation in Los Angeles is made possible with major support from Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder. It is generously supported by an anonymous gift in memory of Melvin R. Seiden, and sponsored by City National Bank.

City National Bank

Selected Works

Publication

Michelangelo: Mind of the Master book cover

Michelangelo: Mind of the Master

Emily J. Peters and Julian Brooks, with contributions by Edina Adam, Marjan Scharloo, and Carel van Tuyll van Serooskerken


Purchase this and other publications in the Getty Museum Store

Podcast

Michelangelo's Drawings: Mind of the Master

Inside the mind and method of one of the most celebrated artists of the Italian Renaissance.


Listen to the podcast

Mobile

Curators guide you through an intimate exploration of Michelangelo's drawings, sharing insights about his process as he conceived of great works of art.

Pick up a multimedia player free of charge in the Museum Entrance Hall or use your own smartphone on our free GettyLink Wi-Fi.


Take the mobile audio tour: getty.edu/michelangelo

Social Media


Curator's Gallery Tour Join curator Julian Brooks for "Last-Minute Michelangelo," a spotlight on some of his favorite Michelangelo drawings in the exhibition on Facebook Live.

Watch all of the Facebook videos about this exhibition

Virtual Program


Nourishing Genius: Food and Wine in the Time of Michelangelo Nourish your genius and join Fred Plotkin, specialist in Italian gastronomy, opera, and history, and curator Julian Brooks as they travel back in time to explore the fascinating connections between art, food, wine, and the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo in this virtual talk and tasting.

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