Michelangelo, 1475-1564 (Basic Art) [Paperback]

Neret Gilles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000 | Series: Basic Art

During the Renaissance, the great homosexuals, from Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli to Michelangelo and Raphael, transformed the history of art, attaining to ever closer imitation of nature whilst altering it to their taste. From their art, ambiguous beings were born, half man, half woman; female breasts were planted on male busts and a young man's gaze peeped out beneath the eyelids of a Madonna. From his earliest youth, Michelangelo never ceased to suffer, and thereby to create. He attempted to reconcile the apparently conflicting forces that inhabited him: earthly passions and fear of God. Hence the edifice devoted to beauty, celestial and infernal alike, that Michelangelo raised to the glory of God. It has no equivalent nor descendance. His predecessors aspired to Heaven through faith alone; Michelangelo sought to rise through the contemplative exaltation of beauty. His passions found expression in the human body as it emerged from the Creator's hand. And they did so even on the ceiling of a papal chapel: the Sistine. This exposed him to a chorus of derision from prudish critics, who accused him of exhibiting paganism in a place of religion, and who clothed his immodest Titans in painted "breeches". It was Michelangelo's curse to remain a colossus outside and apart from his time.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Taschen; Revised edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822859761
• ISBN-13: 978-3822859766
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous!, April 26, 2004

By 

J. Marren "jtm497" (Glen Ridge, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Michelangelo, 1475-1564 (Basic Art) (Paperback)

I bought this book to accompany "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" by Ross King--which, if you're interested in the subject, is a great laymen's introduction to the glories of the Sistine Chapel. If you've ever had the privilege of seeing the ceiling or "The Last Judgment" you know you don't exactly get up close, and it's easy to be overwhelmed. This beautiful book concentrates on the details--of a face, a hand, eyes. The eroticism of Michelangelo's work is immediately apparent. The book also focuses on the major sculptures, as well as the artist's studies for his masterpieces. Particularly interesting is the discussion of the unfinished sculptures, which presage modern trends. All in all, a great introduction to the artist at a very reasonable price. (The binding seemed OK to me!)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Book with Good Pictures, March 11, 2007

By 

Wayne R. Salamon "Wayne Bane" (Parma, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Michelangelo, 1475-1564 (Basic Art) (Paperback)

This book covers the various aspects Michelangelo's works, with easy to read information text and pictures of many of his achievements. I'm happy I bought this book. I also bought Rizzoli's book on Michelangelo. The two books together showed and told me just what I was searching for. I knew little of his life and achievements and now have a pretty good grasp of what he really did.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nicely written. Binding needs improvement..., September 25, 2000

By 

"robertfickling" (Walnut Creek, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michelangelo, 1475-1564 (Basic Art) (Paperback)

A well written and illustrated book at a very reasonable price. The author writes about Michelangelo from an intellectually liberated point of view. A welcome change indeed. I would give the book five stars if the book binding were better.If you don't handle very carefully the pages may fall out. Still a good buy!