- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.; English-language Ed edition (11 Nov 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0810935309
- ISBN-13: 978-0810935303
- Product Dimensions: 30.8 x 25.1 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,362,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel - the great glory of Vatican art and one of the most treasured masterpieces of Western painting - provide a visual feast for art lovers in this magnificent, affordable new book. Presenting a complete survey of the restored Sistine Chapel frescoes from Creation scenes to The Last Judgment, this book includes a new text by a prominent American art history scholar. The stunning photographs, previously published by Abrams in two separate volumes, show brilliant details as well as large, overall views. There is no other one-volume work on the Sistine Chapel offering such a clear, concise introduction to this perennially popular subject.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For artists and admirers of Michelangelo's raw power of imagery, no book can rival this for so clear and concise a view of the Sistine paintings, revealing fresh colours and haunting facial expressions in a way that earlier books never came close to achieving. Portions of the walls and ceiling which seem of no particular beauty or importance are focused on closely and deciphered, and an explaination of the historical relevance of such details encourage you to view to whole work with fresh eyes. Facts of its technical execution are also covered neatly and revealingly.
The quality of the photography alone is enough to renew your excitement about this massively exposed work, but the book doesn't negate the social and artistic circumstances surrounding the painting of the Sistine either. There are titles which go into greater detail on this, most notably 'Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling', but if your knowledge of the Sistine's history is scant, you'll certainly learn enough through this book to know about every detail you look at and what it means within the entire work.
The book's presentation as an object in itself is almost scrumptious; the large format, glossy, jacketed hardback cover and generous thickness make it a superb gift. I recieved it as a Christmas present last year and it recieved the most attention from others among everything I was given. The elegant layout of its inside contents, and the clear information it contains, assuming no prior knowledge of the reader, make it ideal for the younger art historian or an artist who requires knowledge of the technical and historic background of the work with strong attention to the raw visual element.
Ultimately the genius of Michelangelo lies in the nervy, dynamic power of his artistic execution, coupled with matchless technical skill (especially in his depiction of the male nude): he is a visceralist as much as he is an aesthete. And in the sheer vividness and splendour of this book's plates, you'll learn everything that's truly worth knowing about Michelangelo's greatness as a pictorialist and painter.
The quality of the photography alone is enough to renew your excitement about this massively exposed work, but the book doesn't negate the social and artistic circumstances surrounding the painting of the Sistine either. There are titles which go into greater detail on this, most notably 'Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling', but if your knowledge of the Sistine's history is scant, you'll certainly learn enough through this book to know about every detail you look at and what it means within the entire work.
The book's presentation as an object in itself is almost scrumptious; the large format, glossy, jacketed hardback cover and generous thickness make it a superb gift. I recieved it as a Christmas present last year and it recieved the most attention from others among everything I was given. The elegant layout of its inside contents, and the clear information it contains, assuming no prior knowledge of the reader, make it ideal for the younger art historian or an artist who requires knowledge of the technical and historic background of the work with strong attention to the raw visual element.
Ultimately the genius of Michelangelo lies in the nervy, dynamic power of his artistic execution, coupled with matchless technical skill (especially in his depiction of the male nude): he is a visceralist as much as he is an aesthete. And in the sheer vividness and splendour of this book's plates, you'll learn everything that's truly worth knowing about Michelangelo's greatness as a pictorialist and painter.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Amazing value
6 Sep 2005
Format:Hardcover
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.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Loved it!
14 April 2004
Format:Hardcover
This was a wonderful book at a really good price. The pictures are quite good, showing a lot of detail and clarity. The narrative is enjoyable as well. This book will make you want to go to Rome and see the real thing up close! (This is also a good book to read along with Ross King's "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling.") Great for your coffee table or art history collection!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
bad print and design quality
7 Nov 2007
Format:Hardcover
I am extremely dissatisfied with the quality of this book.
The pictures are all pale, desaturated and sometimes out of focus!
The layout of this book is something to be desired as well. All Michaelangelo frescoes are "widescreen", so pretty much every single picture span 2 pages. So how I am supposed to enjoy the picture with the book's fold in between??
Creation of Adam, the most famous fresco is never even given in full size.
What a pathetic book with such an outrageous price!
The pictures are all pale, desaturated and sometimes out of focus!
The layout of this book is something to be desired as well. All Michaelangelo frescoes are "widescreen", so pretty much every single picture span 2 pages. So how I am supposed to enjoy the picture with the book's fold in between??
Creation of Adam, the most famous fresco is never even given in full size.
What a pathetic book with such an outrageous price!
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