Loren Partridge

A beautiful large format book which breaks down and interprets the portions of the chapel done by Michelangelo. The division of themes is: Christ and the Virgin Mary, Trumpeting Angels, Hell’s Mouth, Angels carrying the Cross and Crown of Thorns, Angels carrying the Column of the Scourging, Reed, Sponge, and Ladder, Resurrection of the Dead, Ascending Elect, Martyrs, Descending Vices, Boat of Charon and the Damned of Minos, Ecclesias Group, Dismas Group, Saints Around Christ. Michelangelo show more did other remarkable figures such as the Hebrew Prophets and Pagan Sybils but those are not included here in this volume. The articles’ authors go over the controversy of Michelangelo including pagan figures and nonbiblical references (much from Dante). This is an important but largely avoided topic, in the book, with the major opinion being that Michelangelo had no criticism of the institutional church to make such said artistic inclusions. This is an art history book while also being a biography of Michelangelo, plus an artistic interpretation of his major fresco work which veers toward a theological interpretation. Excellent photos details which are easier to see than when physically in the chapel because they are elevated due to the high ceiling.
Color photos, Bibliography. show less