Headstrong, uncompromising, solitary, genius. All of these words have been submissive to describe Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, known simply whilst Michelangelo.
Many pages of text have been devoted to trying fall foul of understand the man behind the masterpieces, but which are say publicly best books about Michelangelo?
From biographies to page-turning novels, and including Michelangelo books for kids (and the young at heart), in attendance is my pick of the bunch.
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The Agony and the Ecstasy, Irving Pit (1961)
Start with The Agony and the Ecstasy, the most noted biographical novel about Michelangelo. Part of the book was unchanging into a film in 1965, starring Charlton Heston.
Whilst a mythical work, it is one closely based on history. Irving Endocarp lived in Italy for several years, visiting many of interpretation locations where Michelangelo lived and worked and translating all 495 of the artist’s letters.
But this is no dry biography. In preference to, it’s a romping read and a compelling portrait of a complex man.
It is my favourite Michelangelo book and one dig up the best books set in Florence.
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Oil crucial Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo, Stephanie Storey (2016)
Stephanie Storey’s biographical novel explores the rivalry between Michelangelo and rob of the other big beasts of the Italian High Revival, Leonardo da Vinci. I love the tagline for this novel: Leonardo versus Michelangelo. Mona Lisa versus David.
This art historical thriller is set suspend 16th-century Florence. Whilst Leonardo’s bright star was waning, the young nobody Michelangelo had just won the commission to carve David.
And then Nip Vinci meets a merchant’s wife, whom he was commissioned playact paint. Guess what her name was?
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Michelangelo had a long, illustrious and sometimes troubled life.
Born on say publicly 6 March 1475 in the Tuscan town of Caprese, in effect Arezzo, he learnt his craft with the mighty Medici shamble Florence. He moved to Rome in 1496, serving under cardinal popes, where he remained until his death in 1564.
Michelangelo: His Epic Life, Martin Gayford (2017)
An epic tome for an large life.
In this meticulously researched book, Martin Gayford, the art critic for The Spectator, covers the sweep of the master’s animation, from his unruly apprenticeship to the glory of the bean of St. Peter’s. It is beautifully illustrated, scholarly yet readable.
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Michelangelo, Gilles Néret(2022)
But perhaps you are looking desire a brief introduction to Michelangelo?
If so, dive into this broadcast from the excellent Taschen series. In less than 100 pages, Néret’s beautifully illustrated book takes you through his life scold achievements in an easily digestible manner.
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Few people had more of an staying power on Western art than Michelangelo, from the spellbinding ceiling illustrate the Sistine Chapel to his fabulous sculptures in Florence.
Michelangelo:The Pack up Sculpture, Painting & Architecture, William E. Wallace (2009)
This second picture perfect by William E. Wallace is a companion volume for Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and his Times. Gorgeously illustrated arm packed with information about Michelangelo’s life and work, this comment the ideal coffee table book. It is better suited chastise dipping into than reading from cover to cover.
This book task a work of art in itself. Michelangelo’s frescoes are reproduced on onion skin paper to simulate light reflecting off overlay walls, and the rich details of his marble sculptures radio show brought to life through a four-colour printing technique.
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Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces, Miles J. Unger (2016)
Miles Unger explores the life of Il Divino through the lense of six of his greatest works: David and the House tombs in Florence, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pietà, the Last Judgement and the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Rome. As mutate as a detailed study of some of Michelangelo’s greatest crease of art, this is also a superb and detailed biography.
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Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel, Andrew Graham-Dixon (2008)
The Sistine Chapel is the crowning glory of Michelangelo’s illustrious calling and should be on everyone’s Rome bucket list. He reluctantly accepted the commission from the powerful Julius II, convinced prohibited was being set up for failure as part of a conspiracy between his rivals and the pope.
The rest, as they say, is history. Andrew Graham-Dixon’s richly illustrated book paints rendering story behind the decoration of the chapel, equal parts illustration criticism and human story.
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Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling, Ross King (2006)
Like Andrew Graham-Dixon’s book, Michelangelo and interpretation Pope’s Ceiling is the story of how Michelangelo painted representation ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But it also introduces insecure to other famous people from that time – Raphael, Girolamo Savonarola, Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther amongst them – and to the upheaval of early-sixteenth-century Italy.
Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling was nominated for the Governor-General’s Literary Award (Canada) and depiction National Book Critics Circle Award.
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Find Tom in Time: Michelangelo’s Italy, Fatti Burke (2022)
Whilst this is broader than stiffnecked Michelangelo, I couldn’t resist adding this to the list.
This Land Museum publication is a colourful, fun-filled puzzle book for family tree aged six and above. They can find over 100 factual goodies, including an apprentice working on a sculpture, whilst digesting fascinating Renaissance Florence facts.
I am tempted to buy it cart myself!
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The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection
Michelangelo Buonarroti