Giveaway: Biography of Michelangelo

Did you know that not only was Michelangelo a gifted sculptor, painter, architect and poet, he was also an aristocrat who firmly believed in the ancient and noble origins of his family? In fact, this belief in his patrician status fueled Michelangelo’s lifelong ambition to improve his family’s financial situation and to raise the social standing of artists. And his ambitions were quite evident in his writing, dress, and comportment, as well as in his ability to befriend, influence, and occasionally say ‘no’ to popes, kings, and princes.

In Michelangelo, William E. Wallace offers a view of the artist written from the words of Michelangelo as well as his contemporaries. This biography not only tells the artist’s own stories but also brings to life the culture and society of Renaissance Florence and Rome.

We are giving away one copy of this book. Please comment for a chance to win in response to this question: What is your favorite work by Michelangelo? Contest is open until December 9, 2009 midnight Eastern time. Sorry, but at this time we can only send books to U.S. contest winners. Good luck!

Ancient Marvels

Publishing Historical Titles

The King of the Lobby

Gian Trotta

The Last Judgement, by all means. It reflects the end of the Renaissance that the abuses of the papacy and the resulting Sack of Rome by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V’s troops meant.
Mark Venema

The pieta in the Museo della Opera in Florence. Its certainly his most spiritually mature work. One senses a man who has come to terms with his frailty and knows his mortality and his sin.

[ps. I have a US mailing address too. ]

Thanks for following on Twitter.
Mark Venema

Here is a link to the Pieta I am talking about http://www.wga.hu/art/m/michelan/1sculptu/pieta/pieta_.jpg
Caroline

Why, I’d have to say The last Judgement is my favourite painting by Michelangelo. I could spend a whole day staring at that painting!
http://todeuso.tumblr.com/ Lee

“Dal disegno allo spazio” (his drawings for Florentine Fortifications). Know this isn’t *one* work, but this was how he first sought to make his fortune. Florentine history fascinates this American.
http://twitter.com/elle_wrathall elle wrathall

my favorite work by michelangelo is the pietà. it was amazing to see in person & of all that it expressed, what impacted me most was the profound ache of a mother having lost her son
http://claudiafinn.blogspot.com/ Claudia

I love the Sistine Chapel. I would say even though I have never seen it in person it is my favorite because of its use of the body to depict the Bible in such language such profound beauty.
http://ticklemebrahms.blogspot.com Paul Mathers

Moses. Wonderful Sculpture. Such a strong, starkly beautiful figure.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelo%27s_Moses.jpg
http://web.me.com/ron_ny Ron Caldwell

The crucifixion of St. Peter in the Pauline Chapel, Vatican. Beautifully rendered; Peter expresses a combination of defiance and acquiescence.
http://joseflorido.tumblr.com Jose

For me “Creazione di Adamo” is his masterpiece!
Thanks for the book recommendation, looks very interesting.
http://www.sandybelk.com Sandy Belk

As an artist, I’ve always been fasticated by Michaelanglo’s abilities and especially his ability to say no to the pope on occasion. I’d love to read more about this.
S. Scott

Creation of Adam. When in greatest need, Man gazes upward and reaches, with humility, towards eternal strength, eternal hope, eternal faith, eternal redemption, eternal love: God.
Vicky Alvear Shecter

My fave: David. Oh wait, no–the Sistine Chapel. No, Moses…
http://theviewfromsarisworld.blogspot.com sari

Without a doubt Michelangelo’s Pieta is my favorite. Though I am not Christian the sculpture always moves me to tears when I see it. Someday I will visit St. Peters just to see it in person.
http://writingren.blogspot.com Julianne Douglas

The Crouching Boy, now in the Hermitage museum, is a beautiful piece.
http://www.pachs.net/about/blogs darin

His Bacchus (1496), commissioned by the cardinal Raffaele Riario. Riario wanted something to rival the ancient statues in his collection, but apparently thought Michaelangelo failed to meet those high standards.
Anne

The Pieta, because that was my mother’s favorite.
http://twitter.com/wbcurry Bill Curry

Moses. It surpasses any work of the ancient world and is an outstanding expression of the modern spirit.