Fresco painting called for numerous preparatory stages, but among the most vital and indispensable were the drawings by which designs were worked out and then transferred to the wall. Before a single stroke of paint could be applied to the vault of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo needed to produce hundreds of sketches to establish both the intricate body language of the characters and the overall composition of the various scenes. The poses for many of his figures, including the dispositions of their hands and expressions on their faces, were composed through six or seven separate studies, which means he may have executed over 1,000 drawings in the course of his work on the fresco. These ranged from tiny scribbles--thumbnail sketches called primo pensieri, or "first thoughts"--to dozens of highly detailed, larger-than-life cartoons. This book details more than one of history's greatest artistic accomplishments, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it also encompasses the historical times, the politics of the day, the state of the church, the art of fresco painting, and, of course, Michelangelo's life and artistic challenges. It is a fascinating tale which reads like a novel. The book often reads more like a history book than one about art, however, the historical events of the day are both intriguing and intertwined with Michelangelo's work.
While filled with details, I still found the writing kept me glued to the story. The times and events surrounding the period of this painting are remarkable. If you love history and art, this will be a very enjoyable book for you. From an art lover's perspective, I would have liked to have seen more space dedicated to how dazzling Michelangelo's achievement must have been to the people who first saw it and how it continues to be a pinnacle of art today.
No comments:
Post a Comment