A fantastic artist and master of the Renaissance who turned painting, sculpture and art from a number of crafts to three art forms.

Michaelangelo’s favourite medium was sculpture and his most famous work is undoubtedly David, but if you visit the Accademia in Florence you will pass his slaves as you approach David down a long corridor. These figures are breaking out of the stone that has oppressed them. They mark Michaelangelo out as one of the first modern artists, in that he was trying to ‘create’ rather than to ‘represent’. Who knows what other works of genius he might have sculpted and what architectural marvels he might have achieved had the Pope not called him to Rome to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – although I recognise this is a wonderful piece of iconic art. No-one who has stood in the Piazza del Popolo at the entrance to Rome can doubt his credential in architecture.

So why is he a gay icon? He maintained his sexuality despite his deeply pious religious beliefs. He was 57 when he fell in love with Tommaso ‘de Cavalieri but they stayed together until his death at 59. This must have been a challenge as all eyes – especially those of the Pope – were upon him. Above all he was a homosexual who made a huge difference in his field. Then there was Leonardo da Vinci, but I’ll leave him to somebody else.

Tony