Michael Angelo Buonarroti / With Translations Of The Life Of The Master By His Scholar, Ascanio Condivi, And Three Dialogues From The Portugese By Francisco d'Ollanda

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

19332

Title

Michael Angelo Buonarroti / With Translations Of The Life Of The Master By His Scholar, Ascanio Condivi, And Three Dialogues From The Portugese By Francisco d'Ollanda

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume presents the definitive biography of Michelangelo, featuring a contemporary account by his pupil Ascanio Condivi alongside translations of dialogues by Francisco d'Ollanda. It offers an intimate portrait of the master's life, artistic struggles, and profound devotion to his craft, revealing the man behind the marble and the fresco.

Summary up to 500 words

Charles Holroyd presents a comprehensive narrative of Michelangelo Buonarroti's life and career, anchored by the invaluable contemporary biography written by his scholar and friend, Ascanio Condivi. Holroyd translates key dialogues from the Portuguese by Francisco d'Ollanda, providing Michelangelo's own voice as he reflects on the nature of art, the difficulties of his profession, and his complex interactions with popes and patrons. The text details the artist's early years in Florence, his tumultuous relationship with the Medici family, and his monumental commissions for Pope Julius II, including the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the Tomb of Julius. Holroyd highlights the delays and interruptions caused by political upheavals and the demands of the papacy, tracing Michelangelo's evolution from a rebellious youth to the revered master of the Cinque Cento. Through letters, contracts, and Condivi's reverent observations, the book illuminates the psychological depth of the artist, his obsession with perfection, and his belief that true art is a divine imitation. The narrative explores Michelangelo's frustrations with patrons who demanded impossible deadlines and his preference for solitude over the company of idle persons. He argues that great painting is a rare perfection that only Italians can achieve, viewing it as a divine imitation rather than mere decoration. The work serves as both a historical record and a meditation on the sacrifices required to achieve greatness in the face of adversity, offering readers a deep understanding of one of history's most influential creative minds.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19332.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg19332.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-08-13 21:00 UTC

Categories

• Biography
• Art