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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews

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4.6 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. King Stays on Point, Mar 6 2003

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taking a rest - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (Hardcover)

I enjoy reading biographies and Mr. King is one of the better writers when documenting those periods of European History he chooses. He wrote a wonderful book about Brunelleschi, and now offers readers and even more ambitious work on Michelangelo and Pope Julius II. Many writers seem to often stray, and are too sweeping and inclusive of other persons and events that also took place during the time they are documenting. Mr. King gives enough information to keep his subjects and their pursuits in context without diluting the premise of his books.

The painting of the Sistine Chapel may seem like too well worn a subject for another book but the author dispels so many misconceptions about the events that were involved in this creation that his clarifications are worth the read on their own. The book also includes magnificent color plates and numerous black and white drawings that make the book all the more interesting. But the images add to the book, they do not act as a crutch for an author lacking information.

Did Michelangelo paint while lying on his back, the book answers that question by sharing a letter and diagram of Michelangelo that he penned himself sharing the manner by which he worked? Were the frescoed ceiling and vaults designed and painted by Michelangelo on his own, how long did the work really take, and how close did the work come to be handed over to another artist before its completion?

The author also demonstrates the influence and politics that were a daily part of working for The Vatican and this particular Pope. Mr. King will share the discovery and rapid rise of the artist Raphael who was painting at The Vatican simultaneously with Michelangelo. Bramante who was to initiate the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Cathedral was also always present, in the shadows or in front, scheming or openly attempting to influence who would gain specific commissions for the Pope. And there is also the famous/infamous Savonarola who held great influence with the artist who painted the 12,000sf ceiling at a time when approving of the doomed holy man could mean death to those who shared his thoughts.

I have no way of knowing which person or architectural marvel Mr. King will turn to next. He explores several fascinating people in this work that would fill several additional books. I only hope that he continues to produce these eminently readable and enjoyable studies of History and her participants.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story., Jan 31 2006

By A Customer

This review is from: Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (Paperback)

A well written account of Michelangelo's life,personality and various works. It also gives a flavour of the history and times he lived in as well as including relevant photographs that are beautiful. It includes so much detail that really added to my enjoyment of the book.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Good, overall - more on the topic would have been better., July 13 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (Paperback)

I'm not a fan of historical books but the topic of arts intertwigled with the Papacy was too good for me to resist. The book is a very well written, real non-fiction page-turner, which does not have the typical hundred names and hundreds places and dates of the typical historical book. It has plenty of interesting facts about the time of Michelangelo's fresco paintings, and places the topic well in the time and place context of such an age. However, there is a relatively small proportion of the book that is specifically focused on the topic of the title. Rather, the author sidetracks time and time again on events that occur at the time when the Sistine Chapel ceiling was being painted. Although not related, the topics described are quite interesting and the overall narration flows quite well.

This is definetly not a biography on Michelangelo, neither is it a compendium on fresco painting. It is a very good historical book, which could have been complemented with plenty of more insights into the subject matter rather than delving on tangents.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Tremendously focused and comprehensive history
Appreciators of art, particularly the classics, will have a field day with Ross King's Michelangelo & The Pope's Ceiling, not just because it gives a blow-by-blow account of... Read more

Published on July 7 2004 by Daniel Friedman

5.0 out of 5 stars The best way to meet Michelangelo
King exhibits a masters touch in his descriptive writing, panache and almost daily record of the artists life. Read more

Published on July 3 2004 by William A. Gast