Much has been written about the paintings and sculptures of Michelangelo, arguably the greatest artist of the Renaissance. But what about the man? In this revealing look at the Florentine genius, acclaimed author George Bull traces the life and spiritual quest of Michelangelo, drawing a fuller portrait of the man himself. In all his work, Michelangelo impressed his contemporaries as a forceful personality, a divine genius endowed with "terrabilita," or intense emotional power. Often portrayed as a solitary and austere figure, he in fact enjoyed a wide range of friendships. And it is those whom he loved and hated, served or resisted, who are presented here-- from his family and fellow artists to the popes, nobles, and rulers of Europe. George Bull presents the life of Michelangelo in the round, bringing before the reader a towering genius whose versatility and originality are constantly being rediscovered.

"A gripping new biography." The Sunday Times, London

"A thorough and informative book." Kirkus Reviews

"A complex and contradictory Michelangelo emerges." Publishers Weekly

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was a sculptor, architect, and painter of genius and a poet and writer of great accomplishment. He was born in Caprese, where his father, a Florentine nobleman, was the visiting magistrate. He was apprenticed in Florence to the painter Ghirlandaio in 1488, and thereafter learned the elements of fresco technique and developed a lifelong interest in sculpture. His talent brought him to the attention of Lorenzo de' Medici and other patrons in Florence and Rome. In his lifetime he was recognized as the greatest living artist, and created a succession of masterpieces of sculpture, fresco painting, and architecture. In all his work, Michelangelo impressed his contemporaries as a forceful personality, a divine genius endowed with terribilita, or intense emotional power. Often portrayed as a solitary and austere figure, he in fact enjoyed a remarkable range of friendships, and those he loved and hated, served or resisted, are presented here, from his family and fellow artists to the popes, nobles, and rulers of Europe. In this new life of Michelangelo, George Bull places him firmly in the context of his time. He worked during three-quarters of a century of tremendous change in European society, and as an artist was supremely responsive to the hopes, fears, and values of his culture, which he both exemplified and defied.