Complete Poems and Selected Letters

by Michelangelo Buonarroti, Creighton Gilbert (Translator), Robert N. Liscott (Editor)

"Mr. Gilbert has been right in following what he calls the principle of 'complete fidelity.' The original beauty of the sound may be lost, but at least the thoughts and the ideas are saved, something which is scarcely true even of such illustrious translations as those of Emerson or Wordsworth." -The New York Times Book Review

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, History, Italy, Classics

376 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1980

About the author

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer of the High Renaissance period who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. Considered as the greatest living artist in his lifetime, he has since been held as one of the greatest artists of all time. Despite making few forays beyond the arts, his versatility in the disciplines he took up was of such a high order that he is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his fellow Italian Leonardo da Vinci.

Reviews

[a duck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelangelo is one of my favorite poets, but as I read this I realized I had forgotten how depressed my man was. While Michelangelo is rightfully recognized as a great sculptor, painter, and architect, I think people overlook his poetry. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the artist, poetry, or Renaissance studies.

I’m especially fond of his love poems, so I’ll share my personal favorite below to try and convince you all to read his poetry:

With grace to all, to itself only scorn,
A wretched beast is born in grief and pain,
Clothes other’s hands, but its own hide unskins,
And only in dying may be called well born

So too I’d want to have my fate adorn
My Lord, while living, with my dead remains;
As on the rock the serpent sheds its skin,
Only in death can my condition turn.

Oh if I only had the hairy coat
Which, with its plaited fur, makes such a dress,
That clasps so beautiful a breast with pleasure,

I’d have it daytimes; or each little boot
That makes itself his column and his base,
At least I’d carry it in dirty weather.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelangelo was such an interesting person. This book really gives you an insight into his relationship with his family and his financial troubles. His poetry is absolutely beautiful.

[James Violand · Rating 3 out of 5]

We knew he was brilliant as a sculptor and painter. He shows his art in the written word as well. Interesting.