Michelangelo was one of the most influential artists of the Renaissance period in Florence, Italy. As a sculptor, painter, and architect, he created famous works like David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He was supported by wealthy patrons like the Medici family and commissioned by the Catholic Church for important religious artworks. Michelangelo's innovative style and masterful technique revolutionized art and established new standards that influenced many subsequent generations of artists.