Michelangelo: A Biography About the Brilliant Renaissance Artist Behind the Sistine Chapel for Children

by Diane Stanley

With her thoroughly researched, lively narrative and superbly detailed illustrations, Diane Stanley has captured the life of the artist Michelangelo, who towered above the late Renaissance—and whose brilliance in architecture, painting, and sculpture amazes and moves us to this day.  Michelangelo had a turbulent, quarrelsome life. He was obsessed with perfection and felt that everyone--from family members to his demanding patrons—took advantage and let him down. His long and difficult association with Pope Julius II yielded his greatest masterpiece, the radiant paintings in the Sistine Chapel, and his most disastrous undertaking, the monumental tomb that caused the artist frustration and heartache for forty years. Children's Books 2000-NY Public Lib., Books for Youth Editor's Choice 2000 ( Booklist ), Lasting Connections 2000 (Book Links), Best Books 2000 (School Library Journal), Top 10 Youth Art Books 2000 ( Booklist ), and Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2001, National Council for SS & Child. Book Council

Genres: Biography, Art, History, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Biography Memoir

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Diane Stanley is an American children's author and illustrator, a former medical illustrator, and a former art director for the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons. Born in 1943 in Abilene, Texas, she was educated at Trinity University (in San Antonio, TX) and at Johns Hopkins University. She is perhaps best known for her many picture-book biographies, some of which were co-authored by her husband, Peter Vennema. (source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually add the shorter children's books I read to Goodreads but this book deserves acknowledgement. The story is captivating, the art is great, and the overall combo makes this an excellent read for children and adults. Michelangelo's comment at the end of his life that he was just learning the alphabet of his craft has really helped me think about the prospects for growth and learning in the eternal resurrection.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud for Y3 & Y1 students. We learned so much from this bio! We just so happened to be studying Raphael art prints at the same time so there were cool connections.

[Lmichelleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy telling of the life and works of Michelangelo, read aloud with my 9 year old. He really enjoyed reading just a few pages a week and slowly getting to know this talented sculptor, painter, and architect. We feel as though Michelangelo is now a friend of ours, a sign of a well done biography!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book chronicles the life and work of the artist MichelangeloMichelangelo di Lodovico di Lionardo di Buonarroti Simoni, best known simply as Michelangelo.

The narrative is long and detailed enough to warrant reading by older children and middle grade readers. The information is enlightening and describes the master's life from his birth to his death.


Diane Stanley's illustrations were created "using watercolors, colored pencil, and gouache on Arches watercolor paper." Her pictures are nicely rendered, complementing the narrative and reflecting the time period.

I thought it was very interesting that she incorporated Photoshopped images of the actual art into her illustrations, along with photos and other drawings to enhance the realism of the book. Considering that it would be very challenging to recreate the beauty of Michelangelo's artwork, I appreciate her decision to use this technique.

I appreciated the in-depth look into the loneliness, the weariness, and the frustration that Michelangelo experienced due to the demands of his patron as well as the political nature of the art community.

His dedication to his art and the work he was commissioned to do is evident throughout the narrative, emphasized by statements such as the following: "He ate merely to keep his body going, nibbling on a piece of bread as he worked. At night he was so tired he would fall into bed 'with his clothes on, even to the tall boots...At certain seasons he kept those boots on for such a length of time that, when he drew them off, the skin came away together with the leather, like that of a sloughing snake.'" (p. 30)

Overall, it's an informative text that effectively uses colorful illustrations to tell the story. A bibliography is included at the end of the book for further information and study. I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually include picture books on my Goodreads, but this was so good I want to see what else the author has written!

You got to feel like you knew Michelangelo. I appreciated placing his greatest works within the timeline of his life. Understanding the evolution of his style will allow me to look at his work and better appreciate it. Well done!

[shems · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a good introduction of michelangelo to children !

[Alicia Perrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this slowly with the kids (ages 5-9)...the writing/pictures kept their attention and we enjoyed it!

[Olivia Rian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelangelo is a nonfiction book about the great Italian painter, Michelangelo. The book begins with Michelangelo's family life as a baby. He was sent away and lived with different people before he lived with his father again. He finally was allowed to become an apprentice for an artist and was so talented was sent to live with and be educated with the Medici family. Many of the boys he associated with in the Medici home went on to become Popes and leaders. Michelangelo's art set of when he made a sculpture of Mary and Jesus. People thought it was brilliant. Later he made the famous David and Moses. The Pope enlisted him in many projects such as painting the Sistine Chapel. After many works of art in sculpture, paintings, and architecture, Michelangelo was getting tired of people demanding him around. He was a lonely man but was lucky to have two close friends in his lifetime.

I enjoyed the art history in this book. The paintings were beautiful. I enjoyed learning about how he came to be who he is and how he was viewed in his day. I was sad to learn that he was not altogether a happy man. But content with life as it was. It motivated me to work on my art more. This book is a great man to teach school-aged children more about important people in history.

[Kaycie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michelangelo by Diane Stanley is a book all about the fascinating life of Michelangelo. Michelangelo was a prominent artist booming from the Renaissance period for his skill in architecture, painting, and sculpting. Stanley did a wonderful job accurately depicting Michelangelo’s life, from the start when his talent started, to the legacy Michelangelo has today. Michelangelo grew up in a stonecutter’s family, and from there impressed everyone who came into contact with his art. Lorenzo de’ Medici, Florence’s great ruler was the one who got Michelangelo quickly famous. The main conflict of Michelangelo’s life that was depicted in this book was the disapproval from Pope Julious II. Stanley does a great job depicting his artwork in her illustrations, for example with the Pieta and David sculpture. Each page of this book has a detailed description of Michelengo’s life. Not only are there significant words, Stanley incorporates powerful illustrations to visually represent Michelangeo’s roller coaster journey. Stanley used great detail in her realism illustrations, which was very fitting for this nonfiction book

[Makayla Coffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelangelo was a prominent artist booming from the Renaissance period for his skill in architecture, painting, and sculpting. Stanley did a wonderful job accurately depicting Michelangelo’s life, from the start when his talent started, to the legacy Michelangelo has today. Michelangelo grew up in a stone cutter’s family, and from there impressed everyone who came into contact with his art. Lorenzo de Medici, Florence’s great ruler was the one who quickly made Michelangelo famous. The main conflict of Michelangelo’s life depicted in this book was the disapproval from Pope Julius II. Stanley does a great job depicting his artwork in her illustrations, for example with the Pieta and David sculpture. Each page of this book has a detailed description of Michelangelo's life. Not only are there significant words, Stanley incorporates powerful illustrations to visually represent Michelangelo's roller coaster journey. Stanley used great detail in her realism illustrations, which was very fitting for this nonfiction book.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am increasingly impressed with Diane Stanley's contribution to elementary biography. Even older, junior high students, parents and grandparents will appreciate the excellent work she has done in summarizing the life of Michelangelo.

The narrative is interesting and captures the flow of Michelangelo's life in chronological order, as well as providing insight into the turbulence and challenges of his times.

The illustrations feature Stanley's line draw Michelangelo positioned to work on photographic images of his art work. Not only is this cleverly done, but it is also modestly executed, which is an aide for parents who would like to take a more restricted approach to renaissance art. I think this was a good choice that makes it appropriate for everyone.

After reading it through with my student, we ordered it and returned our library copy, excited to add another gem to our home school library.

[Nevada Libert · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a great book! i think michelangelo was an amazing person, and what he did is soooooo amazing, he painted the sistine chaple, and made many wonderful sculptes. i love how he was so patient with the popes.


favorite quotes
"i already have a wife he once said,"who is too much for me; one who keeps me unceasingly struggling on.it is my art,and my works are my children.

[Cathy Sheetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrations are combined with photos of Michelangelo's sculptures. The story covers the more well known aspects of Michelangelo's life and artwork.

I could see using this book with a study of the Italy during the Renaissance in social studies or with a study of sculpture in art for 4th through 6th grade. I would include it in a 3rd through 6th grade classroom library. Be aware that some of the sculptures are nude.

[Jean Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these bios by Diane Stanley! Michelangelo was beautifully illustrated and written, engaging from beginning to end. I read it as a summer read aloud with my 8 yr old and 6 yr old, they loved it too. We read it slowly over a month along side several over-sized art books filled with Photographs of Michelangelo's works.

[Anna B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read which our family enjoyed as a read aloud, even our 6 year old was engrossed by this great artist's life. The illustrations were beautiful and included photographs of some of Michelangelo's real works of art.

[James Tetley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read on the life of Michelangelo. Not a long book, and aimed at children, but hits all the high points of his life, the frustrations, the politics, and his final project working on the rebuilding of the great St Peters Basilica in Rome. A good read

[Willow]

Note: there are several gruesome inclusions and a great many small nudes. In the larger ones, the exposed areas are blurred and indistinct or cropped out of the picture. There is an illustration of Michelangelo in the morgue slicing a corpse up the front in order to dissect and analyze its anatomy.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is a fantastic and brief biography of one of the greatest artists of all time. It had images of many of the most famous pieces and was a great introduction to the Renaissance for my son as well.

[Bobbiann Markle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this biography to my 8yo for school. He gives it 4.5 stars because “it’s simple and easy to understand.” We found it interesting. It has illustrations of Michelangelo’s actual artwork including nudity, in case that is of concern to you.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting biography that wasn't dry and dull and just filled with boring facts. It was an entertaining story that was also informative. The illustrations were awesome, the type that make you want to linger a bit longer on each page.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated biography of Michelangelo Buonarroti; I read this as part of a homeschool unit on the Renaissance. We had already watched "The Agony and the Ecstasy," so they already kind of knew a lot of the biographical details . . .

[Jonathan Jerden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps intended for children, I found this 50-page graphic arts book to be everything I want to know about this Master.

Sculptor of the Pieta & David, painter of the Sistine Chapel, and architect of St. Peter's Basilica.

[Jillena · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent short book about the marvelous life of a brilliant artist. We was not only a sculptor, but also a painter and architect. If you didn't know then you need to look at the amazing things that this man did in his lifetime.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning illustrations! I enjoyed the look deeper into the life of this amazing artist. Highly recommended!

[Lucy Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In-depth and accurate. The truth about Michelangelo's Sistine chapel piece and how insanely powerful the Pope was in this time period.

[Meredith Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

(with Ben and Mabry)

[Dan Castrigano · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short little biography of Michelangelo. The pictures were OK - some of the illustrations were superimposed on actual photographs of works by Michelangelo and it looked kind of goofy.

[LeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Agony and the Ecstasy for kids. All the basics of Michelangelo's life and art on a level that can be absorbed by early elementary students. Beautiful illustrations.

[Christabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was good at everything, I feel like.

[Stephanie]

This book was a reference book for my son's first 5 paragraph essay. It was a great resource for that.