#8: Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling by Ross King

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100 books, art, book review, books, history, Michelangelo

The celebrated German writer Goethe once said that “Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.”  Michelangelo Buonarroti’s fresco cycle on the Sistine ceiling is an accomplishment that transcends the artistic.  It is a landmark achievement that has become deeply embedded in the fabric of Western culture.  Many of the individual elements of the frescoes have become celebrated works of art in their own rights.  The ceiling as a whole is a staggering example of Michelangelo’s talent and willpower.  In honor of Michelangelo’s 537th birthday this past Tuesday, I decided to read a book about my favorite artist (and my favorite ninja turtle).

Ross King’s Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling tells the story of how Michelangelo, renowned as a sculptural genius but inexperienced as a frescoist, came to paint the single greatest artwork ever created.  It features a cast of characters that includes the warrior-pope Julius II, artistic greats Leonardo and Raphael, and a host of priests, kings, and noblemen.  King’s writing is entertaining and the book is well researched.  It very clearly relies more on the scholarship of others than that of the author, but King weaves all of the various elements of the story together in a highly engaging manner.  The book is a popular history rather than an academic one and should be judged accordingly.  As a popular history, this book excels. 

Ultimately, the star of the book is Michelangelo.  His accomplishments in the Sistine Chapel are simply incredible.  Add to that his various sculptural, architechtural, and pictoral works, and you have greatest artist of all time.  King’s book destroys the romantic image of a solitary Michelangelo slaving away on his back (he had a team of assistants and was able to stand while painting), but the real story is even more interesting.  I have read quite a few books on Michelangelo (both academic and popular), and King’s is one of the most entertaining.  If you have an academic interest in Michelangelo, there are more thorough treatments, but for the amateur enthusiast King’s book is an excellent choice.

The Current Count:

8 Read, 92 To Go

#30: The Sistine Secrets by Blech and Doliner

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art, book review, books, history

For my thirtieth book, I indulged one of my many obsessions– The Sistine Chapel.  For nearly as long as I can remember, I have been consumed by a curiosity about and a desire to visit this incredible place.  Michelangelo’s ceiling is indisputably one of the greatest achievements by any individual in human history.  I have never seen it in person, but even in reproduction the artwork is stunning.  I am not exaggerating when I say that I dream about the Sistine ceiling many nights.  Fortunately, my wife has accepted a life that includes my many quirks and unusual preoccupations. 

The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican by Benjamin Blech and Roy Doliner is an intriguing book.  It’s thesis is that Michelangelo encoded a number of secret messages in his Sistine artworks.  These messages are largely based on knowledge of Jewish scriptural tradition and Kabbalah that Michelangelo obtained during his years in the liberal-minded household of Lorenzo de’ Medici.  The authors support their arguments with visual evidence from Michelangelo’s paintings (including some details revealed by the extensive cleaning of the frescoes at the end of the last century) and clues from Michelangelo’s personal history and writings.  Their arguments are well-reasoned and well-documented.  Overall, the book  is a fascinating new look at the greatest works of art by the greatest artist in history. 

(Image courtesy Christus Rex)

That said, I do not necessarily agree with all of the interpretations offered by the authors.  This book suffers from the same weakness as nearly all books that offer interpretations of art, music, film, or literature.  The problem is tunnel vision.  Such works become so focused on their thesis that they ignore all other possibilities.  Tunnel vision is necessary to some degree, but an author should still acknowledge the possibility of other correct interpretations.  Michelangelo is long dead and left no clear indication of his intentions when painting the ceiling.  For that reason, no argument can definitively prove the artist’s purpose.  Blech and Doliner make a very strong case, and many of their interpretations seem indisputable.  My only complaint is that they don’t acknowledge other possibilities.

The Current Count–

30 Read, 70 To Go