| View Larger Image | Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling | Paperbackby Ross King (Author)
| List Price: | $17.00 | | Price: | $11.56 | | You Save: | $5.44 (32%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Paperback | | Publisher: | Penguin (Non-Classics) | | Edition: | First Paperback Editionth Edition | | Page Count: | 384 Pages | | Publication Date: | November 25, 2003 | | Sales Rank: | 23,516rd |
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FEATURES | - ISBN13: 9780142003695
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
In 1508, despite strong advice to the contrary, the powerful Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel. With little experience as a painter (though famed for his sculpture David), Michelangelo was reluctant to begin the massive project. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling recounts the four extraordinary years Michelangelo spent laboring over the vast ceiling while the power politics and personal rivalries that abounded in Rome swirled around him. Battling against ill health, financial difficulties, domestic problems, the pope's impatience, and a bitter rivalry with the brilliant young painter Raphael, Michelangelo created scenes so beautiful that they are considered one of the greatest masterpieces of all time. A panorama of illustrious figures converged around the creation of this great work-from the great Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus to the young Martin Luther-and Ross King skillfully weaves them through his compelling historical narrative, offering uncommon insight into the intersection of art and history. |
Amazon.com Review
Almost 500 years after Michelangelo Buonarroti frescoed the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the site still attracts throngs of visitors and is considered one of the artistic masterpieces of the world. Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling unveils the story behind the art's making, a story rife with all the drama of a modern-day soap opera. The temperament of the day was dictated by the politics of the papal court, a corrupt and powerful office steeped in controversy; Pope Julius II even had a nickname, "Il Papa Terrible," to prove it. Along with his violent outbursts and warmongering, Pope Julius II took upon himself to restore the Sistine Chapel and pretty much intimidated Michelangelo into painting the ceiling even though the artist considered himself primarily a sculptor and was particularly unfamiliar with the temperamental art of fresco. Along with technical difficulties, personality conflicts, and money troubles, Michelangelo was plagued by health problems and competition in the form of the dashing and talented young painter Raphael. Author Ross King offers an in-depth analysis of the complex historical background that led to the magnificence that is the Sistine Chapel ceiling along with detailed discussion of some of the ceiling’s panels. King provides fabulous tidbits of information and weaves together a fascinating historical tale. --J.P. Cohen |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 93 reviews)
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A time of geniuses, rebellion, and warrior popes by Nicholas Pistor (St. Louis, MO, USA)  4 Stars
November 09, 2009
If you learn anything from "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" it's that the famed artist didn't paint the Sistine Chapel vault while lying on his back.
(You'll also learn than Michelangelo had bad personal hygiene--"never wash yourself," he would say--and that he sometimes went so long without removing his boots that when he did remove them, "the skin came away like a snake's with the boots." )
Aside from the aforementioned revelation, which can humbly be used at cocktail parties (of which I don't attend), you'll find almost all parts of the book fascinating.
Michelangelo said the "world was a place of tears." No wonder.
Pope Julius II, the man who commissioned Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, was called the "Warrior Pope" whose main ambition was "ensuring the power and glory of the papacy."
Michelangelo even suspected Julius II of trying to have him killed. Key word: trying. (Julius II considered Michelangelo a genius -- and knew their legacies would be entwined.)
These were challenging times circa 1500 Rome. Syphilis and homosexuality were rife among the clergy. Wars were fought and won and lost. Rome was bathed in urine. And nearly every aspect of the Roman Church was for sale.
Nonetheless, as geniuses toiled away, Martin Luther was growing disillusioned with the church.
Julius II gave the world both Michelangelo and Raphael. Among others. Ironically, Pope Julius II started the use of "indulgences" to pay for it. And Martin Luther would have something to say about that.
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Happy historical reading. by Maria Beadnell (NY United States)  5 Stars
November 03, 2009
Two things: I have a degree in Art History, but it is 20 years old.
I am a working librarian (MLS), rabid about historical facts, but must read so much that I am apt to skim if something does not hold my interest.
A challenge in any historical book is relating the facts without boring us silly. Many authors try to get around this by making up conversations and/or speculating on characters' motivations. This author does not do that--rather, he does make guesses as to why whoever did what, but always says it's his educated guess. His disinclination to make up converstions may be why some reviewers thought his writing was dry, but he also included translations of letters between Michelangelo and others that spiced things up admirably.
I loved the love-hate relationship among Michelangelo, his patrons, and his rivals. I enjoyed the frequent tangents which I felt put things in historical persprective. I didn't even mind the small size of the colorplates, because these days many of them can be Googled in a few minutes, and making the illustrations larger would have made the book too expensive. I DID mind that some of the illustrations had no dates, making it difficult to compare how one artist may have influenced another. That could have been fixed without making the book more costly.
I read and enjoyed every word.
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Vicki 4 Stars
October 27, 2009
Fascinating historical account of how the ceiling was painted along with the drama of Michelangelo's life. I had no idea how the church operated during this period of time. That was equally as interesting as the history of fresco painting. If you are an artist or Catholic, it's a must read!!
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Entertaining reading, good pictures by Luis Mansilla Miranda (Viña del Mar, Chile) 4 Stars
August 31, 2009
It is amazing how much we know about this great sculptor and painter. The book is simply attractive, with some drops of humor the author takes you back to Renaissance Italy, full of artists and dominated by a rotten Catholic Church that left much to be desired. This was the time of Michelangelo, the time when living in Rome was dangerous because of malaria and other diseases, days with particular Popes like "il Papa Terribile", that nauseated Martin Luther but to whom we can be thankful for those great works of art comissioned by him and others. Despite all the information we have about Michelangelo, I am still curious about his personal life, a life of struggle and unhappiness with himself. This is one of the books you have to read before visiting Rome or Florence.
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We Have This Treasure in Jars of Clay by Alan L. Chase (Boston, MA) 5 Stars
August 29, 2009
As a young person, I began to learn about Michelangelo's painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel through watching the film, "The Agony and the Ecstasy." Later, I read the Irving Stone novel that had been the basis for the Hollywood treatment of the story. In 1996, in a visit to Rome, I was able to behold the legendary ceiling with my own eyes.
When I learned that the writer and researcher, Ross King, had written a book about the painting of the ceiling, based on his assiduous and painstaking assessment of thousands of documents and interviews, I knew I had to read the book. I had already been delighted and informed by King when I read his account of the building of the Duomo in Florence, "Brunelleschi's Dome." This account of the struggle between Michelangelo and Pope Julius II also includes a cast of characters from rival artist Raphael to Martin Luther. Although carefully annotated to lead serious students to primary sources, the narrative is written in a very readable and enjoyable way. King debunks much of the Hollywood hype and the misconceptions that have surrounded the legend of the painting of the Sistine Chapel. The true story is no less intriguing than the myth that had been built up over the centuries, brush stroke by brush stroke.
I was struck by the juxtaposition of the personal styles of Michelangelo and Raphael, who worked and lived in close proximity to each other at the Vatican. Raphael was almost always surrounded by an entourage of young artists and assistants whom he was mentoring and teaching. Michelangelo, in contradistinction, used assistants only grudgingly and never took them under his wing as protégés. It seems to me that God often singles out the least likely vessels to contain and to serve as conduits for his most glorious treasures and works of genius. I think of Mozart, as well as Michelangelo, and am reminded of the word of the Apostle Paul: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show us that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)
However flawed Michelangelo may have been in his humanity, his artistry and the works of his hands remain to inspire and to induce awe in those of us fortunate to behold them.
King's treatment of the artist and his work in the Sistine Chapel frames beautifully the man and the magic of his work.
Enjoy.
Al
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