Michelangelo BUONAROTI
Painter, Sculptor and Architect of Florence
(1475-1564)

Name: E.D.C.
Date: 2002-04-14
Comments: The way that Michelangelo portrays nude women--can this be a portrayal of Renaissance beauty for women?
Or did he model his female figures from male bodies?
This woman is very muscular and weighty. Was it common for women during this time to be so bulky?
If so, I think I culture could take a few lessons!

Name: Irene Imbrogno
Date: 2002-05-20
Comments: I concur with the remarks made above.The statue of night does resemble a male figure.It is very muscular,with large arms and legs.Weighty, but not curvy,like a woman.Perhaps Michelangelo had a dislike for women.Conversely,his Pieta looks very feminine and graceful.The facial features are quite delicate and the expression,compassionate and loving.
Perhaps, he revered motherhood,but not women in general.

Name: Striker
Date: 2002-11-28
Comments: "night" was supposed to give a very sensuous effect to the viewer....it meant to portray to the human mind the processes of every day life....when a human returned at night, he would look forward to spend it with his women....once again, the splendification of man....the expressions on the sculpture depict a very sensuous effect as stated earlier.

Name: Unknown
Date: 2003-01-30
Comments: In answer to the question posed by E.D.C. I believe that all of Michelangelo's female figures were drawn from male models.

Name: annakiyah
Date: 2003-11-13
Comments: the figure is totally manly, with a pair of breasts sticking to it in an attempt to make it a female figure, though it didn't really work. All his life, Michelangelo was more interested in portraying the male nude, and if he made females, it was usually clothed Mary with child. Even in his paintings, if we see females, mostly they are clothed.

Name: Prima Apple
Date: 2004-04-19
Comments: Honeslty, lets get it straight.
It's cleary evident Michelangelo was a homosexual. It shows through out the 'Night' statue. The supposed woman has the characteristics of a man. It's a possibility his intentions was to create a statue of a man but he also wanted to show that in every man, there is a side for pure beauty. Maybe his intentions was to create a statue that with a particular significance. The significance being unknown. Maybe this was his intention. To create a statue that would be discussed in the future. A statue that would create controversy amoungst people. there are many various reasons and I have listed only a few. Michelangelo wss a legend in the past, is a legend in the present and will be a legend in the future.