Looking up
I've gotten a little behind in updates, as you can probably tell. There's a lot of turmoil at the office lately and I'm just now starting to get a handle on things. Thank god I have the day off tomorrow - it's such a welcome relief I can't even say.
First up for my new reviews is Ross King's Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, the story of the two great men behind one of the world's great artistic masterpieces, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. I must admit a penchant for books about artists and the creative process, despite the fact that my own talents in this area are strictly limiting to stick figures, smilie faces, and the occasional Mondrian-inspired canvas. King's book is certainly a fine example of the genre and he does an excellent job of showing the true granduer of Michelangelo's achievement while still recognizing that the artist was often hampered by his suspicious nature. Interesting tidbits about in the book - I didn't realize that the Sistine Chapel was the first fresco Michelangelo executed since his student days. Even given his prodigious talent, Michelangelo was severely hampered by his lack of knowledge about how to work in this notoriously tricky medium. Also rather surprising is the fact that unlike so many artists, Michelangelo actually managed to get paid what he was owed for his work. Considering the numerous wars his patron Pope Julius II fought during the 4 years it took Michelangelo to complete the ceiling, getting what he was owed is a testament to both his tremendous creation and his forceful personality.
While King's previous entry into the genre, Brunelleschi's Dome, has been widely praised, if I were to only recommend one book of his I'd choose this one. Brunelleschi's Dome is very heavy on physics, which while a necessary requirement to adequately explain the magnitude of the achievement, it's tough slugging for readers like myself who aren't really physics people. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling has the advantage in being a far less technical subject that makes for an easier and more enjoyable read. I'd give both books 4 stars based on the quality of the writing and the obviously thorough research that they're grounded in.
If you're curious, King has also made an excellent foray into Iain Pears territory with his literary mystery Ex Libris. Definitely worth spending some time on if you like richly detailed, intricately plotted, and slightly quirky literary mysteries.
First up for my new reviews is Ross King's Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, the story of the two great men behind one of the world's great artistic masterpieces, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. I must admit a penchant for books about artists and the creative process, despite the fact that my own talents in this area are strictly limiting to stick figures, smilie faces, and the occasional Mondrian-inspired canvas. King's book is certainly a fine example of the genre and he does an excellent job of showing the true granduer of Michelangelo's achievement while still recognizing that the artist was often hampered by his suspicious nature. Interesting tidbits about in the book - I didn't realize that the Sistine Chapel was the first fresco Michelangelo executed since his student days. Even given his prodigious talent, Michelangelo was severely hampered by his lack of knowledge about how to work in this notoriously tricky medium. Also rather surprising is the fact that unlike so many artists, Michelangelo actually managed to get paid what he was owed for his work. Considering the numerous wars his patron Pope Julius II fought during the 4 years it took Michelangelo to complete the ceiling, getting what he was owed is a testament to both his tremendous creation and his forceful personality.
While King's previous entry into the genre, Brunelleschi's Dome, has been widely praised, if I were to only recommend one book of his I'd choose this one. Brunelleschi's Dome is very heavy on physics, which while a necessary requirement to adequately explain the magnitude of the achievement, it's tough slugging for readers like myself who aren't really physics people. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling has the advantage in being a far less technical subject that makes for an easier and more enjoyable read. I'd give both books 4 stars based on the quality of the writing and the obviously thorough research that they're grounded in.
If you're curious, King has also made an excellent foray into Iain Pears territory with his literary mystery Ex Libris. Definitely worth spending some time on if you like richly detailed, intricately plotted, and slightly quirky literary mysteries.
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