A review by booksrockcal
Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King

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