Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564) (. [mikeˈlandʒelo]), was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer of the High Renaissance who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art.Considered as the greatest living artist in his lifetime, he has since been held as one of the greatest artists of all time.ichelangelo, with Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, is one of the three giants of the Florentine High Renaissance. Although their names are often cited together, Michelangelo was younger than Leonardo by 23 years, and older than Raphael by eight.