Michelangelo drawing of himself painting the Sistine Ceiling c. 1510


Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, 1475–1564). Sonnet "To Giovanni da Pistoia" and Caricature on His Painting of the Sistine Ceiling. Pen and brown ink, sheet: 11 1/8 x 7 7/8 in. (28.3 x 20 cm). Casa Buonarroti, Florence Archivio Buonarroti (XIII, fol. 111). This work is in the public domain.

This drawing is on the same page as a poem about painting the Sistine; read the full translation of the poem at the Poetry Foundation


To see more of Michelangelo’s drawings, I recommend Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman & Designer (FYI, this site is an Amazon Associate, so if you purchase the book from the link above, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you!)