Michelangelo: The Frescoes of Sistine Chapel
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
Michelangelo: The Frescoes of Sistine Chapel Details
From Publishers Weekly Anyone who's experienced neck pain while gazing at the stunning frescoes of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel will see the value in Hall's book. The author, a specialist in Italian Renaissance art, presents revealing commentary to accompany Okamura's 157 dazzling, full-color photographs, which were taken after the frescoes' decade-long restoration in the 1980s. The book displays each fresco from the Creation scenes to the Last Judgment; some even have zoomed-in versions that show detail as fine as specks of dust on Saint John the Baptist's beard. Hall's presentation of Michelangelo's masterwork is comprehensive; in addition to explicating each component (e.g., how the fresco of Saint Catherine and Saint Blaise, which originally "invited bawdy jokes," was altered after the artist's death), she also describes the chapel's appearance before the frescoes covered the walls and ceiling, gives some background on Michelangelo's career and discusses the artist's preliminary drawings. Okamura's photos shine, showing off the frescoes' intricate details and intense colors, ranging from the azure blue surrounding trumpeting angels to the deep burgundy of the prophet Jeremiah's robes. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more
Reviews
If you have an interest in art, or in Michelangelo in particular, this book should be part of your collection. The reproductions are remarkable (photos were taken after the Sistine Chapel ceiling had been cleaned), and I can't imagine a better book on the subject at this low price. I was amazed when the book arrived, because it is a substantial book for the price, and the photos are just beautiful. I visited the Sistine Chapel this summer, and ordered this book when I got home. I would highly recommend your having this book before a trip to Rome. Most of the images are far away when standing in the Sistine Chapel (the ceiling is high) so it's hard to see detail when looking at the real thing. Looking at these photos beforehand will give you an even greater appreciation of Michelangelo's genius.