Author Description

Truly in a class of its own, Young Michelangelo is the most definitive and eye-opening study of the artistÆs early life to come along in a generation. In this compelling account, renowned art historian John Spike paints a vivid portrait of one of the worldÆs greatest artists and the places and peopleùLorenzo deÆ Medici, Leonardo, Machiavelliùthat inspired and defined his early life and career. SpikeÆs masterful text probes the thinking, evolution, and desires of a young man whose awareness of his exceptional talent never wavered. MichelangeloÆs complex personality is revealed through lively examinations of the Pieta, the David, and all other major works. Drawing on a rich background of Italian Renaissance politics and culture, Spike deftly navigates the fiery Florentine masterÆs struggle to surpass da VinciÆs artistic mastery, and his troubled relationships with Julius II and other key figures of the era.