Hrag Vartanian

The Kimbell’s purchase, The Torment of Saint Anthony (1487-88), will be the only painting by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) to enter the permanent collection of a U.S. museum.

And about the work:

The three historical versions agree on these points: Michelangelo was 12 or 13 years old when he became friends with Francesco Granacci, an assistant in artist Domenico Ghirlandaio’s workshop. When Michelangelo expressed an interest in painting, Granacci provided him with an engraving of St. Anthony by German artist Martin Schongauer, as well as brushes, a wood panel and paint.

Michelangelo copied Schongauer’s composition, made some changes to the demons’ faces, positions and skin texture and added the landscape.

I think the painting resembles many other works from the era (though IMHO a little more Northern European than can be expected from an Italian). I guess knowing that a 12 or 13 year old painted it does make it incredible and, of course, now that people are recognizing that the panel is by Michaelangelo, well…I don’t have to explain that…