Scan barcode
Reviews
Il papa e il suo pittore. Michelangelo e la nascita avventurosa della Cappella Sistina by Ross King
solaana's review against another edition
4.0
I read this after I went and had the worst experience in the Sistine Chapel not involving assault. It made me pretty sad that I'd breezed through there so quickly, so hey, gotta see it again.
kalliegrace's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Fascinating history of the Sistine Chapel ceiling art, from how Michelangelo wanted nothing to do with it at the start to how out of pocket the Pope was during the whole process. This is a quick read that doesn't get too bogged down in the details, very enjoyable.
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of Michelangelo’s painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It’s interesting to have it in its historical context—including the fact that scenes recognized as iconic in the present day (Creation of Adam, anyone?) were not as impressive to their audience when unveiled. Fascinating stuff, and the narrator really added to the book in this edition for me.
charlibirb's review against another edition
3.0
Cool info, but didn't really feel like a story. Was just a set of facts.
booksrockcal's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Excellent and informative book about Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel. King tells a rich and layered story about Michelangelo, Pope Julius II, and early 16th century Italy. Michelangelo struggles through health and financial issues, family troubles, logistical challenges, and competition with other painters such as Raphael while painting the chapel. In fact, we learn from the book that Julius II chose Michelangelo to paint the ceiling even though he had never painted a fresco before- thanks to the advice of his rival Bramante, who wanted Michelangelo to fail. Michelangelo was known for his statues and wanted to create sculptures for Julius II’s tomb and was quite disgruntled about getting this job. Four years after starting, in the midst of war and intrigue that characterized Pope Julius II’s tenure, Michelangelo not only did not fail but painted a masterpiece that has survived through the centuries despite weather, smoke, wax, explosions, and other events that discolored but did not erase the painting which is there today in restored splendor to inspire all visitors to the Vatican
babs_jellymuck's review against another edition
5.0
This book took me soo damn long, but I can't complain after reading how painfully long and agonizing it was for Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel. I obviously have no concept of "soo damn long."
I really enjoyed the detailed history lessons, il papa terrible, the parallels of Michelangelo and Raphael, and the direct quotes taken from correspondence at that time. With that being said, although this book conveniently has some photographs tucked in and black and white visuals interspersed, they were too tiny and few. I think it would be best paired with an internet source, or even better, a detailed book with photographs of the Sistine Chapel. King describes all the frescoes in such tantalizing details I had to keep getting up to search what specific part he was referring to. I was especially bummed when he described the last pieces done by Michelangelo as being some of the greatest and most triumphant (the ones surrounding Jonas such as the Crucifixion of Haman and the ignudi) which were cropped out of the image included in the book.
I'm left feeling like I should probably go to Italy and see this ceiling with my own eyes as soon as possible. Since that's not really an option...there is this website that allows you to take a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel to the tune of an echoey choir. It is a must-have for this read for those of you who, like myself, don't have the disposable income to see it first-hand:
http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/index_sistina_en.html
I really enjoyed the detailed history lessons, il papa terrible, the parallels of Michelangelo and Raphael, and the direct quotes taken from correspondence at that time. With that being said, although this book conveniently has some photographs tucked in and black and white visuals interspersed, they were too tiny and few. I think it would be best paired with an internet source, or even better, a detailed book with photographs of the Sistine Chapel. King describes all the frescoes in such tantalizing details I had to keep getting up to search what specific part he was referring to. I was especially bummed when he described the last pieces done by Michelangelo as being some of the greatest and most triumphant (the ones surrounding Jonas such as the Crucifixion of Haman and the ignudi) which were cropped out of the image included in the book.
I'm left feeling like I should probably go to Italy and see this ceiling with my own eyes as soon as possible. Since that's not really an option...there is this website that allows you to take a virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel to the tune of an echoey choir. It is a must-have for this read for those of you who, like myself, don't have the disposable income to see it first-hand:
http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/index_sistina_en.html