Customer Reviews

Michelangelo: The Complete Sculpture, Painting, Architecture

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The strength of this book is the excellent photographs, showing each work from a variety of angles so you can really appreciate the complexity of the sculpture. The commentaries are well written and straightforward. Having read the previous review, I read the Anthony Hughes book too and found its commentaries more complex--well, anyway,more opionated!--but its tiny pictures can't compare to the splendors in this book. Short of a trip to Italy, it was the next best thing!

MICHELANGELO: THE COMPLETE SCULPTURE, PAINTING, ARCHITECTURE is one of those books that would be a generous addition to any art/art history lover's library. This very large scaled volume is meant to be about the visual and not the stuffy, thesis-driven, dry tome words of biography. William Wallace has excellent credentials as a writer and his style of writing is warm, thoughtful, insightful, and informative. He has elected to begin his book with an abbreviated biography, knowing that most people know the general facts about Michelangelo's life, and then presents the artists' output in sections of scultpure, painting, and architecture. It is said that Michelangelo never considered himself a painter, despite his glory in the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. It is his sculpture for which he wished to be known and surely there are few extant examples of heroic sculpture that are in his rarefied league. The reproductions of the frescoes are color correct and the sculptures are captured with excellent photographic drama. For those who wish to know more about the writings and sonnets of Michelangelo as well as the contorversies that colored his life, then look elsewhere among the many books available. But for sheer joy of turning page after beautiful page that document Michelangelo's genius, then look no further. A perfect gift for yourself and for those who care about art.

This book is fantastic! I have a collection of Michelangelo books and this is easily one of my favorites. The reproductions are absolutely stunning, with special mention to some of the Sistine Chapel frescoes reproduced on transparent paper--nice touch.

William Wallace (no, not the Braveheart guy...) does an admirable job with each piece of Michelangelo's works.

Highly recommended.

I was discouraged to read such amazing reviews of the book, but to also hear of the difficulties in getting it. I found it at the Metropolitan Museum Online Store for $35, and it is perhaps the most beautiful, well-done art book I've ever seen. The reproductions are gorgeous, and the commentary is excellent. You won't do better with anything else, especially if you want a single volume overview of all of his works.

We recently returned from Europe and my husband was fascinated by Michaelangelo. We looked at a number of books while in Rome, but couldn't find exactly what we were looking for. This was it. It has beautiful pictures of all of his work. Each page would be suitable for framing. This is the most complete book of his works that I have found.

This is a magnificent book about Michelangelo Buonarotti. As one reviewer said Mr. Wallace's text is a bit sparse, but afterall: it is an art book! It's my opinion that a book about an art/artists should contain more pictures than text, unless it is SPECIFICALLY a biography or the history of a certain work, era, etc. But I digress...!
I especially like the photos of the restored Cistine Chapel ceiling. Cleared from the 'fog' of dirt, dust, etc., one can see Michelangelo's incredible skill as a painter. The sculpture section is wonderful too, of course! I don't know what else to say.
For those who can't find this book: Before this week, I didn't even know it existed. I found it in the bargain section of BORDERS (I don't think Amazon will mind, as they're 'teamed' with Borders!). Check them out, as I got it for 1/5th the published price. I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas present and am glad I did! If you see it, buy it - When I returned the next day all copies were gone. I am very happy with this book and recommend it highly!

I bought this book to go along with the author's course from the Learning Company (Great Courses) and found it a wonderful supplement to that course. Standing alone it is an excellent overview of the breadth of Michaelangelo's career as artist. The plates are marvelous and having seen much of his work in Italy it brought back many fond memories and I learned more than I expected both from the course and the book. It is more than a one time through table top book. Anyone with interest in the subject I think would find this a valuable resource and bring many hours of pleasurable reading and viewing. For those who have the course from the Learning Company you will find that the book follows the course so you can easily use both resources at once.

The book shows you all of Michelangelo's work, with incredible multi-size pictures.
It is like reviving our trip to Italy.
It's a great present.

This is a beautifully produced book. The text is informative. The art reproduction, particularly of The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, is spectacular.

If you've had the opportunity to travel to Italy, and view Michelangelo's beautiful works of art in person, you'll appreciate the reproduced works of arts, the accompanying photographs and text. If you haven't seen these works of art in person, you will also enjoy this book.

You will see and understand the Sistine Chapel Ceiling's panels better than when actually standing in the Chapel itself as the panels are a long way up from where you stand and the lighting in the Chapel is fairly dark. You can really see the Sistine Chapel paintings in a way like no other in this wonderful book.

The seller, Little Guy Books, provided excellent (and fast) service for this product.

My husband really enjoyed this item for his birthday.The pictures are vibrant and clear in color as if you were standing in front it at the museum.