He had recently hired Michelangelo to design and construct his immense and elaborate tomb. But shortly after Michelangelo began, the Pope persuaded him to postpone that project and fresco the ceiling for the sum of 3,000 ducats, a "princely" sum. Because Michelangelo thought of himself primarily as a sculptor, at first he did not want the comission. ... Michelangelo was born in 1475 in a small town near Florence and was only 33 years old in 1508 when he began the project which would become his greatest accomplishment. ... And thus have I lived for some fifteen years [as an artist] ...

• Word Count: 937
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School