Michelangelo

By: George Bull

Narrated by: Nadia May

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was recognized in his lifetime as the greatest living artist, creator of a succession of masterpieces in sculpture, fresco painting, and architecture. In all his work, Michelangelo impressed his contemporaries as a forceful personality, a divine genius endowed with terribilita, or intense emotional power. Often portrayed as a solitary and austere figure, he in fact enjoyed a remarkable range of friendships, and those he loved and hated, served or resisted, are presented here, from his family and fellow artists to the popes, nobles, and rulers of Europe.

In this new life of Michelangelo, George Bull places him firmly in the context of his time. He worked during three-quarters of a century of tremendous change in European society, and as an artist was supremely responsive to the hopes, fears, and values of his culture, which he both exemplified and defied. Using recent research as well as the great established biographies and letters and records, Bull traces the life and spiritual quest of Michelangelo, man and artist, and brings to the narrative an exceptional feel for the Italian Renaissance.

©1995 George Bull (P)1997 Blackstone Audiobooks

very detailed

I struggled to finish this as there seemed to be minutiae that made the book become less interesting.

Excellent biography for those with some background

This is an excellent biography for readers who already have some knowledge about the Italy and Europe of Michelangelo's time. The author is thorough and fair. He makes good use of letters and other documents. The book is long but that is because Michelangelo lived a very long life and worked on many projects. The text moves at a good pace. If you are not reasonably familiar with the period--for instance, if you do not already know who Charles V and Francis I are--you should probably start with a more basic book. Otherwise, you might find it confusing when the author refers to Michelangelo's contemporaries with only slight background information.