Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling, by Ross King (on CD: read by John Lee)

Retrieved from: the library
(0736696058)

Fascinating dissertation on the four years it took Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Not only about the painting, the painter and the pope, it also discusses Julius’ disastrous military campaigns in the north of the peninsula, the rivalry between Michelangelo and Raphael (who was painting frescos in the Pope’s apartments beginning about a year after the ceiling work began in the chapel), the destruction and planned rebuilding of St. Peter’s by Bramante, and Michelangelo’s dysfunctional, mostly male, family. Really good. It was especially nice listening to it because of all the lovely Italian names that just rolled off Lee's tongue. The word "Rusticucci" I loved especially.

The only downside was not being able to look at the pictures as I was listening because I was driving at the time. However, now having seen a copy of the book itself, I still would have wanted a full volume on the ceiling at hand. There are relatively few illustrations, although those included are very interesting in themselves. The map of Italy is helpful, too.