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tri_lo_bite's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Ross King has once again blown me away with a history that feels almost like a novel. In Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling we get a glimpse into Rome under Pope Julius. We get to see Michelangelo frescoing the Sistine Chapel of course- not lying on his back like popularly believed, but craning upwards at impossibly uncomfortable angles. And we get so much more than that.
This book covers the rivalry between Michelangelo and Raphael, the politics and wars under Pope Julius, the reinstatement of the Medici in Florence and so much more. If you’re a lover of art history this is a great book to learn about more than just the art.
This book covers the rivalry between Michelangelo and Raphael, the politics and wars under Pope Julius, the reinstatement of the Medici in Florence and so much more. If you’re a lover of art history this is a great book to learn about more than just the art.
stephaniesteen73's review
3.0
Really interesting portrayal of all the drama behind the scenes of painting the Sistene Chapel...the pope, the wars, the intrigue, the late payments, personnel issues, etc. Interesting info, but unfortunately not as "gripping" a portrayal of some fascinating history as I would have hoped.
karinlib's review
4.0
This year my goal is to read a book set in each country of the world. I find myself reading books that have been languishing in my physical library (as well as my ebook library) for a long time, which is a good thing. To my delight, I am loving this journey of finding new authors. For me a book is a good one when it points me to other books and more in-depth research. Michaelangelo and Pope's Ceiling is one of them. I had seen the Sistine Chapel, as well as the Pieta years ago during a trip to Rome. While I was reading this book I kept a picture of the Sistine Chapel up on the computer so I could "follow along" with Ross King and his descriptions.
This book did a wonderful job of describing Michaelangelo's work, dispelling some of the myths that have accumulated because of Irving Stone's the Agony and the Ecstasy. Aside from the Sistine Chapel, King discusses Raphael, who was frescoing the Pope's library at the same time. Most importantly of all he describes the history and its important players during the years Michaelangelo worked on his masterpiece.
One fact that I forgotten about Michaelangelo was that he never thought of himself as a painter and he had very little experience in fresco.
If you like Art History and the Renaissance, this a good book to read.
This book did a wonderful job of describing Michaelangelo's work, dispelling some of the myths that have accumulated because of Irving Stone's the Agony and the Ecstasy. Aside from the Sistine Chapel, King discusses Raphael, who was frescoing the Pope's library at the same time. Most importantly of all he describes the history and its important players during the years Michaelangelo worked on his masterpiece.
One fact that I forgotten about Michaelangelo was that he never thought of himself as a painter and he had very little experience in fresco.
If you like Art History and the Renaissance, this a good book to read.
ipanzica's review
4.0
This book tells the story of Michelangelo painting Pope Julius's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel while recapping all the drama happening at the time. There is so much drama, history, famous figures, scandals, and interesting facts are in this book, that at times it feels like it overshadows the drama between Michelangelo and Pope Julius. For example, Michelangelo throwing a piece of the scapple at Pope Julius was glossed over in a chapter that focused mainly on Michelangelo's and Raphael's relationship/opinions on each other.
This book also referenced so much art and literature that I am excited to look into. For example, did you know that Michelangelo wrote poetry? When I finished this book, it didn't feel like I was finishing a story, instead, it felt like I was introduced to many different topics that I could choose to continue following.
This book also referenced so much art and literature that I am excited to look into. For example, did you know that Michelangelo wrote poetry? When I finished this book, it didn't feel like I was finishing a story, instead, it felt like I was introduced to many different topics that I could choose to continue following.
cjax1694's review
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Hates work, always begging for more money, willing to fully run away from responsibilities over the smallest slight…Michelangelo, girlie, you’re so valid.