Μιχαήλ Άγγελος

Art & Ideas (Phaidon)

by Anthony Hughes, Ιωάννα Βετσοπούλου (Translator)

O Μιχαήλ Άγγελος (1475-1564), νεαρός επαναστάτης που επέλεξε την καριέρα του καλλιτέχνη παραβαίνοντας τις επιθυμίες του πατέρα του, αναγνωρίστηκε τελικά ως ένα από τα ξεχωριστά ταλέντα της εποχής του. Χάρη στη μεγάλη φήμη και στα πλούτη που απόκτησε αντιμετωπιζόταν ως μυθικό πρόσωπο ακόμη και κατά τη διάρκεια της ζωής του. Για πολλούς αιώνες μετά το θάνατό του το έργο του αποτελεί αντικείμενο του παγκόσμιου σχεδόν θαυμασμού, ενώ ο ίδιος θεωρείται το αρχέτυπο της καλλιτεχνικής μεγαλοφυΐας. Σε αυτή την πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα εισαγωγή στη ζωή και στο έργο του καλλιτέχνη, ο Άντονυ Χιουζ χρησιμοποιεί μαρτυρίες που βασίζονται στις πιο πρόσφατες έρευνες και στις τελευταίες εργασίες συντήρησης των δημιουργημάτων του Μιχαήλ Αγγέλου, γεγονός που του επιτρέπει να βλέπει με καινούργιο τρόπο τι πραγματικά σήμαινε ο καλλιτέχνης στην εποχή του και τι σήμερα.

O συγγραφέας τοποθετεί τον Μιχαήλ Άγγελο με σιγουριά στον πολιτικό και κοινωνικό κόσμο που τον περιέβαλλε, ερμηνεύοντας κατά συνέπεια τα έργα του όχι μόνο ως εκφράσεις μιας ατομικής ευαισθησίας αλλά και ως αποτέλεσμα συχνά δύσκολων συναλλαγών μεταξύ καλλιτέχνη και πελατών. Μας προσφέρει επίσης έναν ευχάριστο και ιστορικά ενημερωμένο απολογισμό του συνόλου των δημιουργικών προσπαθειών του Μιχαήλ Αγγέλου, εξερευνώντας ταυτόχρονα τις σχέσεις του με την οικογένεια και τους φίλους του, τη σεξουαλικότητά του και τη θέση του στον κόσμο του 16ου αιώνα

Genres: Art History, Art, History, Nonfiction, Renaissance

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 1997

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dani Shuping · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lia]

a good overview that helped contextualize class readings, but I highkey don't like Michelangelo now lol

[Ivana · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Viktor · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jennifer Sarha · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Γιώργος Μπελαούρης · Rating 5 out of 5]

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''