Michelangelo: The Complete Sculpture, Painting, Architecture
In one concise volume, Wallace (art history, Washington Univ.) presents an accurately rendered life in intelligent, accessible prose. Though not footnoted, it consists of an overview with chronology of Michelangelo's life, followed by three extensive chapters on his major creations?sculpture, painting, and architecture?each illustrated with stunning photographs and post-restoration reproductions. There are several fold-out sections, including a full-color Sistine ceiling and a complete diagram of all its segments. The commentary accompanying each work is engaging, and the layout is thoughtful and well planned, corresponding to the text. While there is a plethora of worthwhile books on Michelangelo, including those that focus in depth on a particular aspect (see Pierluigi De Vecchi and Gianluigi Colalucci's Michelangelo: The Vatican Frescoes; The Complete Works Restored, LJ 3/15/97), these sumptuous reproductions are some of the best on the market. They succeed in conveying Michelangelo's grandeur and magnificence gracefully and factually and, if budgetary conditions allow, should serve as a first-choice introduction to students and interested lay readers.?Ellen Bates, New YorkCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an alternateHardcoveredition.