Michelangelo was born in 1475 in Italy to a family who wanted him to be a merchant, not an artist. He was apprenticed to a painter at age 12 and lived with the ruling Medici family. He became a renowned sculptor and painter, creating iconic works like the Pieta, David, and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Throughout his career he was commissioned for major works by the Catholic Church and Italian noble families. Michelangelo died in 1564 and was buried in his beloved Florence against his family's wishes.