Author Description
Michelangelo was, apart from being a sculptor, architect, and painter of genius, a poet and letter-writer of remarkable accomplishment. George Bull, a distinguished translator of many Italian classics, has brought his skill and experience to bear on translating this new selection of Michelangelo's letters and poetry, as well as the Life, the biography written by Michelangelo's pupil Ascanio Condivi.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This volume examines the multifaceted creative and personal life of Michelangelo Buonarroti through his own correspondence, poetic works, and a contemporary biography. George Bull, a renowned translator of Italian literature, synthesizes these primary sources to provide a comprehensive view of the artist beyond his visual masterpieces. The work utilizes the biographical account by Ascanio Condivi, a student of Michelangelo, to establish a historical framework for the artist's personal motivations and professional challenges.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A curated selection of Michelangelo's personal letters and poetic compositions
- The complete text of Ascanio Condivi's biography of Michelangelo
- Contextual analysis of Renaissance artistic culture and social dynamics
Scope Limits
- Does not provide an exhaustive technical analysis of his sculptural or architectural techniques
- Focuses primarily on the primary source material rather than modern critical art theory
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and readers frequently cite this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the intellectual and emotional interiority of the artist. Experts highlight the clarity of Bull's translations as a significant contribution to making these historical documents accessible to a contemporary audience.
Page Count:
208
Publication Date:
1999-04-22
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192837702
ISBN-13:
9780192837707
Non-Fiction
Poetry
Biography
Letters
Renaissance
Art History