Michelangelo’s First Painting Ever Is In Texas

Before carving “David” or covering the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling in frescoes, Michelangelo Buonarroti painted “The Torment of Saint Anthony.”

Michelangelo was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspired by models from classical antiquity and had a lasting influence on Western art.

Given the sheer volume of surviving correspondence, sketches, and reminiscences, Michelangelo is one of the best-documented artists of the 16th century. He was lauded by contemporary biographers as the most accomplished artist of his era.

Michelangelo achieved fame early. Two of his best-known works, the Pietà and David, were sculpted before the age of 30.

The Torment of Saint Anthony was created when he was either 12 or 13 years old, it is the Renaissance artist’s first painting and the piece hangs on a wall at the Kimbell Art Museum of Fort Worth.

The work is also the only Michelangelo painting in North or South America.

The prolific artist thought of himself primarily as a sculptor, and “The Torment of Saint Anthony” is one of four easel paintings by Michelangelo.

At the time, there was strong evidence that it was the first painting by an Italian master, Lee said. However, that view was not a consensus among scholars.

If you want to go see this painting in Texa the museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday -Thursday and Saturday, Noon-8 p.m. on Fridays and closed on Mondays. Kimbell Art Museum is located at 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. Fort Worth, TX. Admission is free.