From a young age, Michelangelo showed a keen interest in art. His father, who didn t approve of artists, wanted his son to become a respectable citizen such as a banker, a merchant, or even a government official. They had violent arguments, but Michelangelo finally won out. He began working as an apprentice for a well-known painter in the late 1400s. His talents far eclipsed his master s, and his early sculptures brought him fame. His genius wasn t always given free rein. At the insistence of the Pope, he painted the glorious ceiling of the Sistine Chapel when he would have much rather been carving marble. He also enjoyed designing and planning St. Peter s Basilica, the center of the Catholic faith. He even wrote insightful, emotional poetry.
