Daniele Volterra Italian artist and sculptor Date of Birth: 01.01.1509 Country: Italy

1. Early Life and Training
2. Collaboration with Michelangelo
3. Renowned Paintings
4. Sculpture and Controversy
5. Posthumous Legacy

Early Life and Training

Daniele da Volterra (c. 1509-1566), an Italian painter and sculptor, was initially believed to have studied under Sodoma. However, subsequent research suggests that he may have trained in Rome under Perino del Vaga.

Collaboration with Michelangelo

Da Volterra's career took a pivotal turn when he joined Michelangelo's workshop in Rome. Michelangelo became a mentor to him, providing advice and possibly sketches, such as for da Volterra's masterpiece, "The Deposition" (1541) in Rome's Trinità dei Monti church.

Renowned Paintings

Da Volterra's notable paintings include "Justice" (1548) in Volterra's Palazzo dei Priori and "The Massacre of the Innocents" (c. 1548) in Florence's Uffizi Gallery. In the Louvre, "David Beheading Goliath" (c. 1555) is a double-sided painting that captures the split-second moments of a single event.

Sculpture and Controversy

After losing favor with Pope Julius III, da Volterra transitioned to sculpture. He created the statue of Cleopatra for the fountain in the Belvedere Courtyard in Rome. In 1565, Pope Pius IV commissioned him to cover the nudity in Michelangelo's "Last Judgment." This task earned him the ironic nickname "Braghettone" (Pants-Maker).

Posthumous Legacy

Da Volterra's sculptures included a statue of Henry II of France, of which only the horse remains and is repurposed to support a statue of Louis XIII in the Palais-Royal in Paris. His artistic influence endures through his collaborations with Michelangelo and his own masterful paintings and sculptures.