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A review by kathleenitpdx
Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces by Miles J. Unger
3.0
[b:Michelangelo: A Life in Six Masterpieces|18775462|Michelangelo A Life in Six Masterpieces|Miles J. Unger|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405872237s/18775462.jpg|26680605] is a biography of Michelangelo centering on six of his masterpieces. Unger's main theme is that Michelangelo struggled successfully through his life to establish himself and other artists as more than craftsmen, that they could and should have something to say about and through their creations.
I struggled the book a little early on. I did enjoy the author's history of Pietas. But he went on for several pages as to why Michelangelo carved his famous Pieta portraying Mary much younger than she would have been at the time of the crucifixion. Unger used no information from Michelangelo or his contemporaries as to why and didn't propose anything practical like Michelangelo didn't want to carve crows-feet in his beautiful piece of marble. Later in the book Unger did suggest that Michelangelo may have painted fewer and larger figures on the Sistine ceiling so that they would be more visible to viewers 60 feet below and to cover more space more quickly.
Overall I enjoyed the book and really appreciated the way Unger brought in what was happening in Europe at the time and how it impacted Michelangelo. I had never put together that Martin Luther had posted his Ninety-Five Theses during Michelangelo's working life.
I struggled the book a little early on. I did enjoy the author's history of Pietas. But he went on for several pages as to why Michelangelo carved his famous Pieta portraying Mary much younger than she would have been at the time of the crucifixion. Unger used no information from Michelangelo or his contemporaries as to why and didn't propose anything practical like Michelangelo didn't want to carve crows-feet in his beautiful piece of marble. Later in the book Unger did suggest that Michelangelo may have painted fewer and larger figures on the Sistine ceiling so that they would be more visible to viewers 60 feet below and to cover more space more quickly.
Overall I enjoyed the book and really appreciated the way Unger brought in what was happening in Europe at the time and how it impacted Michelangelo. I had never put together that Martin Luther had posted his Ninety-Five Theses during Michelangelo's working life.