Michelangelo: The Birth of a Genius (Part 1)
6/1/20261 hr
Was Michelangelo the greatest artist that ever lived? And where did he learn his unrivalled mastery of marble? Join Alastair and James as they embark on the first of four episodes charting the epic story of the life and work of Michelangelo, known in his lifetime as Il Divino - the divine one. Artworks in this episode include: Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, c.1512, Vatican City Michelangelo, Head of a Faun, c.1489 (lost 1944) Michelangelo, Bacchus, 1496-97, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence Michelangelo, Pietà, 1499, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Hosts: Alastair Sooke and Dr James Fox Additional Research: Catherine Ingram Producer and Editor: Ben Harding Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Creation of Adam 00:08:58 Early Life 00:18:23 Apprenticeship with the Ghirlandaio Brothers 00:22:10 The Medici Academy and Lorenzo the Magnificent 00:27:03 The Head of a Faun: A Precocious Talent 00:33:47 Crisis and Exile: The Fall of the Medici 00:37:49 The Sleeping Cupid Forgery 00:40:56 Rome and Cardinal Riario 00:44:55 The Pietà 00:55:14 Rising Fame
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJames Fox· Host0:00
[classical music] Welcome to Stories of Art. I'm James Fox.
Alastair Sooke· Host0:04
And I'm Alastair Sook.
James Fox· Host0:05
Not long after the beginning of time, God soars through a primeval sky. Wind rippling through his white beard, he descends towards a human figure slumped lifelessly on a patch of grass. Slowly but certainly, the Lord outstretches his right hand, and rousing from his slumber, the human reaches out to touch it. Their hands get closer, closer still, their fingers on the cusp of touching, the spark of life about to pass from one to the other. Now that, Alastair, is my description- [chuckles] I can guess what this one is ... of, of the Creation of Adam, the most famous image on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and one of the defining images of Western culture. It was painted in Rome just over five hundred years ago at the peak of the High Renaissance by the Florentine artist Michelangelo, and he is the subject of this, our latest and so far longest series. Um, but before we start, I just need to let listeners in on a little bit of a secret. [chuckles] I have been trying to do Michelangelo- Yes ... from the very beginning.
Alastair Sooke· Host1:12
It is true.
James Fox· Host1:13
And the guy sitting on the other side of the table has been doing his best to wriggle out of it.
Alastair Sooke· Host1:17
I know, I know. No, no, wriggle is a bit harsh, but no, y- you're right, James. This, this is, this is the big one.
James Fox· Host1:22
Mm-hmm.
Alastair Sooke· Host1:23
And, um, I can attest you have indeed been suggesting this since the very start- [laughs] ... when we were discussing this last year. And I,