In the year that the David celebrates its 500th anniversary, BBC ONE brings to life the story of one of the most gifted, and tempestuous, artists in history. From a traumatic childhood, Michelangelo rose to the heady heights of artistic genius as sculptor, painter, architect and poet.
His work is on such a scale, of such awesome power and breathtaking beauty, that for centuries people couldn’t believe it was created by a mortal. Michelangelo’s extraordinary life spanned almost 90 years from 1475 to 1564. He was a complex character: at times bad-tempered and paranoid, at others generous and affectionate.
His passion for art, for beauty and for God was his driving force throughout his life.