Michelangelo A&I (Art and Ideas) [Paperback]

Anthony Hughes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0714834831 | ISBN-13: 978-0714834832 | Publication Date: September 12, 1997

A rebellious youth who chose a career as an artist against his father's wishes, Michelangelo (1475-1564) went on to be recognized as one of the outstanding talents of his age. Such was the degree of fame and wealth that he acquired that he became a legend within his own lifetime. In the centuries since his death his work has been almost universally admired, and he has been cast as the prototype for artistic genius. In this introduction to the artist's life and work, Anthony Hughes employs the latest evidence from research and restoration projects to take a fresh look at what Michelangelo was and what he has become. Setting Michelangelo within the political and social world he inhabited, Hughes interprets his work not only as the expression of an individual sensiblity but also as the results of often difficult transactions between artist and clients. He gives us an account of the full range of Michelangelo's creative endeavours, in the process exploring the artist's relations with family and friends, his sexuality and his position in the 16th-century world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The books in the Art and Ideas series, which will cover everything from Fra Angelico to Frida Kahlo, are supremely pleasurable to read. In this volume, for example, Anthony Hughes writes dryly of a Michelangelo sculpture of Christ, which was tinkered with and damaged during installation in March 1521: "Since then, more tampering has taken place.... From the late sixteenth century, Christ's genitalia were hidden beneath a bronze loincloth, although that did not prevent a zealous Dominican from trying to remove the penis." Written by scholarly experts who know how to turn a phrase and focus a gaze, the books are filled with hundreds of crisp, color reproductions that give purely visual pleasure and information. Their handy size, 6 1/4 by 8 1/2 inches, makes them easy to carry in a briefcase or backpack, and the text is printed in an easy-to-read typeface, with generous spacing. Even the time lines, biographies, and glossaries in the back are inviting to the eye. There will eventually be more than 100 volumes in the series, which is comparable to Thames and Hudson's World of Art series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (September 12, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714834831
• ISBN-13: 978-0714834832
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #89 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Byzantine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Layout, Great Content, February 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Michelangelo A&I (Art and Ideas) (Paperback)

Firstly, I was thoughroughly impressed by the quality of this little book. The layout of the pages, the quality of the paper, everything. I'm glad to report that the content matches its presentation: Very clean, clear text featuring an unbiased look at Michelangelo's life. The book often cites former biographers (specifically Vasari and Condivi) and more often than not, it tries to find the right history. Very good illustrations of his more famous artwork as well as some drawings. Excellent!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An art book that reads well!, December 18, 2004

By 

Mourning Light "mournlight" (Nashville TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michelangelo A&I (Art and Ideas) (Paperback)

You know how rare that is! But this book is one you don't want to put down. It is so well written, educational, and has so many great illustrations. I enjoyed it a lot.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great value, great text, February 15, 2002

By 

"jmaszle" (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michelangelo A&I (Art and Ideas) (Paperback)

Hughes gives a lot of info in a short book, and paints a very well balanced idea of Michelangelo the man. I felt bad for
Buonaratti after reading this. He truly was a miserable man, yet his committment to his art was never diminished for a moment. In the end the story of his life is inspiring and humbling. Inspiring because it proves what man can acheive, humbling in the sacrifices that were made in order to fulfill his destiny as one of the great geniuses to have ever lived.