considering his place in history. From this time on, he was known as the 'Divine Michelangelo', a living legend, the master of Italian Renaissance. Yet old though he was, in 1547, Pope Paul III appointed him chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica, which he would work on for the rest of his life. Michelangelo died of old age, leaving the project unfinished. Though he devoted the last seventeen years of his life to this task, Michelangelo refused to accept anything. He said he did it for the good of his soul. Years later his body was brought back from Rome for interment at the Basilica di Santa Croce, fulfilling his last request to be buried in his beloved Tuscany. See also Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects Medici Madonna References Michelangelo House of Medici People of the Republic of Florence Renaissance architecture in Florence 15th century in the Republic of Florence 16th century in the Republic of Florence