Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet. He is considered one of the most influential artists in Western art history. His famous works include the David sculpture, the Pietà, and the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Michelangelo was recognized as a genius in his own time. He worked primarily in Florence and Rome, with support from patrons like the Medici family and Pope Julius II.