Michelangelo And The Pope's Ceiling (2003) - Plot & Excerpts
Interesting and very different from what I expected. Realizing how difficult it was to paint anything -- the pigments, additives, etc. needed and the precise making of them and how much work, space, etc. that it took, it's a wonder we have so many gorgeous works. One of things that struck me about the author was how hard the research must have been with all those nicknames and a foreign language.As someone who has read a great deal of medieval and renaissance history I can honestly say that I did not realize the artists were told what to paint and that they were thought of as tradesmen like bricklayers, I found mind boggling...that most of them could not read was amazing. The artists were part of the Guild of Apothecaries and Doctors because the apothecaries sold the ingredients for numerous pigments and fixatives, since many of the doubled as medicines.That Michelangelo was an accomplished anatomist. " Surface anatomy today possesses a nomenclature of roughly six hundred terms which refer to bones, tendons and muscles. Yet according to one estimate and his sculptures show at least eight hundred different anatomical forms. Inf fact, his works accurately depict structures so recondite that medial anatomy, five hundred years later, has yet to name them. One of the few instances where he did alter the anatomical structures is the right hand of David, where he correctly represent some 15 bones and muscles but then elongated the border of one muscle -- the abductor digit minimi -- to enlarge slight the hand holding the stone that will slay Goliath."That fact they studied, drew and used each other's work -- and the works of other artists was surprising. Michelangelo's prophet Jeremiah was portrayed slumping motionless on his throne in a post that anticipated - and no doubt influenced -- Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture "The Thinker."I also found it surprising that the Sistine chapel was the first time that the entire body of God was depicted and that it was the first time he was shown as an old man. I somehow thought that Raphael was a several decades or a half a lifetime later than Michelangelo so that was revealing, as was their relationship and competition. Interesting book.
Russ King’s bestseller describes the painting of the Sistine Chapel under the reign of Pope Julius II, a notorious tyrant of a pope. The book details the technical challenges of the painting of the Sistine Chapel (ranging from paint issues to scaffolding issues to design issues), the life of Michelangelo leading up to the commission, the historical events during the reign of Julius and how they intersect with the chapel painting, and other such details. Overall, I had a hard time getting through this book. While the technical challenges of the painting were interesting, and the pictures of the Sistine Chapel make a man stare in slackjawed amazement at the mural’s beauty, the flow of the book didn’t hold my attention. One problem was the continuous mention of obscure Italian after obscure Italian (probably not obscure if you were an art history major). After awhile, the names began to run together and I couldn’t keep track of the various figures involved in the mural’s painting. Secondly, King includes far too many details of every historic event even remotely related to the completion of this great work, and the tangential details ruin the pacing. There were many sections in the book I felt could have been left out, and the book would have fared the better for it. Lastly, King seems to have written the book for art buffs. As he describes works created by Michelangelo or other artists, he often compared aspects of the work to aspects of other existing works that may have inspired said work (i.e. this particular arm pose from one statue is reminiscent of the arm pose from this other statue). But unless one were also familiar with the other works, the points are less effective. I wish King had included far more illustrations throughout so that non-art fans could better follow his analyses. Overall, a recommendation only for fans of the Sistine Chapel, or for European or Art History majors.
What do You think about Michelangelo And The Pope's Ceiling (2003)?
I enjoyed reading about Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel. I first saw it in 1960, then again when the scaffolding was up for the renovations, yet again a few years ago when the work was done. Now I'd like to go again with even greater appreciation for the frescos. I appreciate King's descriptions of how the work was done. I had the feeling as I read it, that the author favored Raphael rather than Michelangelo. Interesting. I also wished he had a more balanced view of the Borgias and Roveres. There is a body of research that sheds more light on both families. Still, this book is well worth reading. The schematic of the chapel paintings and the colored photos that are coordinated with it are most helpful.
—Marie Castellano
I suppose I should give this book five stars because it has lead me on to a more extensive study of Michelangelo. It was somewhat slow going as I read the book because I kept switching to my iPad to look up pictures of various works of art mentioned in the book. Years ago I read Irving Stone's "The Agony and the Ecstasy," then saw the movie and was captivated by it. However, I learned through Ross King's book that there is much mythology in Stone's book. King has done a vast amount of research, and I was amazed at how much has survived of Michelangelo's family letters and other sources touching his life. King goes into detail concerning the political situations in the Italian States at that time. I had never thought to note that Martin Luther was a contemporary of Michelangelo--just one of the sidelights that interested me. Though his temperament and interaction with people wasn't good, there is no doubting that Michelangelo was an artistic genius. I recommend the book for history fanatics like me!But this book deals primarily with how Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling. It was an unbelievable task that he was forced into by Pope Julius II. Michelangelo didn't consider himself a painter, but wanted to sculpt. Because of Ross's expert interpretation of each section of the Chapel, I have a much better understanding of the entire work. Since I finished the book I've begun seeing the Great Courses lectures "The Genius of Michelangelo." And, despite it not being factual, I plan to see "The Agony and the Ecstasy" again. Can't beat Heston and Harrison!
—Judy
I enjoyed the story of Michelangelo and Julius II. I am certainly glad that I live today and not in the 1400 and 1500s. Ross King does a great job of making history readable and making the time of the Sistine Chapel painting come to life. This was a time when artists worked on commissions from wealthy patrons. It was also a time when the pope waged war, had children and ruled Italy. I learned a lot of history. My only complaint is that there were not more pictures (and more in color) and that they were not larger. I would love to go back to Italy after reading this book and re-view the ceiling. I would appreciate it more the second time around.
—Mary Ellen
