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Art & Ideas (Phaidon)
Michelangelo
A legend within his own lifetime, Michelangelo (1457-1564) has been universally admired in the centuries since his death. Anthony Hughes employs the latest evidence from research and restoration projects to take a fresh look at what Michelangelo was and what he has become. The book sets the artist firmly within the political and social world he inhabited, offering a full account of his creative endeavours in sculpture, drawing, painting, architecture and poetry.
The books in the Art and Ideas series, which will cover everything from Fra Angelico to Frida Kahlo, are supremely pleasurable to read. In this volume, for example, Anthony Hughes writes dryly of a Michelangelo sculpture of Christ, which was tinkered with and damaged during installation in March 1521: "Since then, more tampering has taken place.... From the late sixteenth century, Christ's genitalia were hidden beneath a bronze loincloth, although that did not prevent a zealous Dominican from trying to remove the penis." Written by scholarly experts who know how to turn a phrase and focus a gaze, the books are filled with hundreds of crisp, color reproductions that give purely visual pleasure and information. Their handy size, 6 1/4 by 8 1/2 inches, makes them easy to carry in a briefcase or backpack, and the text is printed in an easy-to-read typeface, with generous spacing. Even the time lines, biographies, and glossaries in the back are inviting to the eye. There will eventually be more than 100 volumes in the series, which is comparable to Thames and Hudson's World of Art series.
The books in the Art and Ideas series, which will cover everything from Fra Angelico to Frida Kahlo, are supremely pleasurable to read. In this volume, for example, Anthony Hughes writes dryly of a Michelangelo sculpture of Christ, which was tinkered with and damaged during installation in March 1521: "Since then, more tampering has taken place.... From the late sixteenth century, Christ's genitalia were hidden beneath a bronze loincloth, although that did not prevent a zealous Dominican from trying to remove the penis." Written by scholarly experts who know how to turn a phrase and focus a gaze, the books are filled with hundreds of crisp, color reproductions that give purely visual pleasure and information. Their handy size, 6 1/4 by 8 1/2 inches, makes them easy to carry in a briefcase or backpack, and the text is printed in an easy-to-read typeface, with generous spacing. Even the time lines, biographies, and glossaries in the back are inviting to the eye. There will eventually be more than 100 volumes in the series, which is comparable to Thames and Hudson's World of Art series.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 16, 2012
This was a thoroughly readable overview of Michelangelo's life and work. It had a good balance of details about the artist's life (including sizable quotes from his letters and poetry, and Vasari and Condivi's contemporary biographies), historical background and context (enough to understand what was going on, not so much as to be overwhelming), and critical analysis and description of the art. I LOVED how it included color photos of everything being discussed, right next to the text where it was mentioned - nothing left to the reader's memory or previous knowledge.
It is interesting to compare this book to somewhat older texts in terms of interpretation of the art and Michelangelo's intentions in creating it. Hughes is reluctant to give any definitive statements. He puts a lot of emphasis on historical attitudes and views of the work, and is skeptical that we can assume to find any hidden "meanings" based on our modern perspective. A good example is Michelangelo's use of non-finito, or lack of finish on many sculptures. This adds a lot of expressive power, and we are used to seeing intentional use of the technique - but how likely is it that Michelangelo would have left these statues unfinished on purpose, given the Renaissance views of art?
Sometimes I think Hughes takes this position too far, but he makes good points that are useful as a counterbalance to other writers who can overstate their subjective interpretations.
It is interesting to compare this book to somewhat older texts in terms of interpretation of the art and Michelangelo's intentions in creating it. Hughes is reluctant to give any definitive statements. He puts a lot of emphasis on historical attitudes and views of the work, and is skeptical that we can assume to find any hidden "meanings" based on our modern perspective. A good example is Michelangelo's use of non-finito, or lack of finish on many sculptures. This adds a lot of expressive power, and we are used to seeing intentional use of the technique - but how likely is it that Michelangelo would have left these statues unfinished on purpose, given the Renaissance views of art?
Sometimes I think Hughes takes this position too far, but he makes good points that are useful as a counterbalance to other writers who can overstate their subjective interpretations.
December 11, 2011
Phaidon does an excellent job with this series and the Michelangelo book is no exception. The 1st thing I always look for in an art book is superb photographs, ones that accurately capture the works of art in all of their detail and more importantly capture the colors of the paintings. And this book definitely meets that criteria. The photographs accurately capture the colors of Michelangelo's works and they capture some of the detail he put into them so that you feel as if you're actually standing in front of them. The writing, while always secondary to me, is easy to read and tells us not only about the works, but something about Michelangelo himself. Unlike many other art history books, this one doesn't have the dry academic tone about it, but is instead actually fun to read and a great way to find out more about Michelangelo. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about this great artist.
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November 26, 2024a good overview that helped contextualize class readings, but I highkey don't like Michelangelo now lol
May 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the author connected the analisis of Michelangelo's work with events that preceded the making of those works. Also I enjoyed finding out about the fights he had with pretty much everyone in his life.
However, I found the last chapter a bit homophobic and unneccessary. I can't see the reason to mention his sexuality out of context and try to convince the reader he was straight. I belive the author didn't need to write about his theories about it in this book since it was a book about art and not only about Michelangelo's personal life.
However, I found the last chapter a bit homophobic and unneccessary. I can't see the reason to mention his sexuality out of context and try to convince the reader he was straight. I belive the author didn't need to write about his theories about it in this book since it was a book about art and not only about Michelangelo's personal life.
October 26, 2016
Was a good book with accurate information on Michelangelo and his art.
The book itself is beautiful and fairly good summary of information. Not just a bunch of facts of art pieces that everyone knows who are interested a bit in Michelangelo's art. I would add 5star for this.
However the writer is too personal sometimes. He declines some facts and presents them as false, also adding his own thoughts as facts. Making look like Michelangelo as a fool sometimes. We dont have to like his personality or actions (I never met him, wish I would) but please give him some credit for what he has done and not doubting everything just because it was written by his secretary. Thats a 3stars.
So overall it is a 4.
The book itself is beautiful and fairly good summary of information. Not just a bunch of facts of art pieces that everyone knows who are interested a bit in Michelangelo's art. I would add 5star for this.
However the writer is too personal sometimes. He declines some facts and presents them as false, also adding his own thoughts as facts. Making look like Michelangelo as a fool sometimes. We dont have to like his personality or actions (I never met him, wish I would) but please give him some credit for what he has done and not doubting everything just because it was written by his secretary. Thats a 3stars.
So overall it is a 4.
March 10, 2015
Interesting and informative biography. Hughes is nevertheless a bit amusing when it comes to Michelangelo's sexuality - he lived as 'celibate', and sculpted 'bafflingly sensuous' young men. Hughes makes an effort to discuss the matter in the last chapter, where he does his best to explain away potential homosexuality. This is not a biography where Michelangelo's homosexuality (if you consider that an accurate or likely historical description) is treated as probable, relevant, or acceptable.
November 21, 2018
godammit i love this series
beautiful books, wonderfully written, i cant get enough of them
as for the subject-matter of this one... come on... what is there to say? he was the boss of renaissance and i fight anyone who thinks that leonardo was above him
ps ''michelangelo and i m giant, i made david but i ll fight you like goliath''
beautiful books, wonderfully written, i cant get enough of them
as for the subject-matter of this one... come on... what is there to say? he was the boss of renaissance and i fight anyone who thinks that leonardo was above him
ps ''michelangelo and i m giant, i made david but i ll fight you like goliath''
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews