Michelangelo - "The Most Powerful Artist of Humanity" by Gustav Seibt. Even during his lifetime, Michelangelo - the painter of the Sistine Chapel, the creator of the "David," the architect of St. Peter's Basilica - was regarded as the greatest artist of all time. Volker Reinhardt offers new insights into the life of this universal genius in his comprehensive, brilliantly written biography. A reading pleasure of the highest level. Michelangelo's masterpieces (1475-1564) continue to fascinate with their beauty and captivate with their depth. But his life was also a work of art. He was driven by the desire to elevate his family's status, worked tirelessly, and received dream fees, yet continued to live like a poor craftsman. Upon the death of the nearly ninety-year-old, a table, a chair, a cupboard, a bed were found - and under the bed, countless sketches.