Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and his Times
Category: Books,Biographies & Memoirs,Arts & Literature
Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and his Times Details
Review "...the artist who emerges from these pages is paradoxically a far richer character than the one captured in fiction-as complicated as his art, and as fiercely intelligent as his times." -Ann Landi, ArtNews"Wallace's (novel) is a detailed investigation that will repay the attention of a well-informed reader already familiar with Michelangelo's art." -ADRIAN W. B. RANDOLPH,Dartmouth College"Don't be intimidated by Wallace's reputation as one of the world's leading authorities on Michelangelo: this is a highly readable, and often very funny, tour through Michelangelo's life and career. It gives a fresh assessment of Michelangelo, showing him not as the moody genius of legend so much as a deft business manager who, among other things, gave his workmen nicknames like Stumpy and Fats. Modern CEOs could learn much from him." -Ross King, The Daily Beast Read more Book Description Written from the words of Michelangelo and his contemporaries, this biography not only tells his own stories but also brings to life the culture and society of Renaissance Florence and Rome. Michelangelo's belief in his patrician status fueled his lifelong ambition to improve his family's financial situation and to raise the social standing of artists. Michelangelo's ambitions are evident in his writing, dress, and comportment, as well as in his ability to befriend, influence, and occasionally say "no" to popes, kings, and princes. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
Reviews
While I enjoyed this breezy biography, I wish it had been more substantial when it came to describing Michelangelo's art; it's difficult to see what he contributed to the Renaissance from the mostly superficial descriptions of his work in the book. Wallace spends much more time describing contracts, logistics, and Michelangelo's testy relationship with his nephew, which is understandable because the book is based on the artist's correspondence, but it ends up minimizing his achievements. I would have appreciated a more indepth analysis of Michelangelo's feelings towards the art of his peers - particularly Raphael and Da Vinci, who only receive surprisingly brief mentions.As for the supposedly important new angle that Michelangelo considered himself an aristocrat, it doesn't affect our view of his work or life substantially, though it does help explain some of his behavior towards his patrons. More interesting was Wallace's debunking of the popular representation of Michelangelo as an antisocial hermit. The book makes clear that he had many significant friendships and that he was gracious and often generous.I would recommend this biography but would urge readers to supplement it with another book that considers Michelangelo's art more closely, such as Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling or Renaissance Rivals: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian.
