books about Art

Michelangelo: The Complete Works: Paintings, Sculptures, Architecture

Book Details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Taschen America Llc (April 6, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 3836586126
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3836586122
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.83 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.84 x 2.01 x 13.39 inches

Michelangelo: The Complete Works: Paintings, Sculptures, Architecture

Michelangelo: The Genius of the Renaissance

By the age of 30, Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) had already created Pietà and David—two of the most iconic sculptures in art history. A master of sculpture, painting, drawing, and architecture, Michelangelo’s vast and multifaceted body of work remains unmatched in its influence and brilliance.

This richly illustrated TASCHEN edition traces his extraordinary rise to prominence during the Renaissance. Through ten detailed chapters, the book explores his major works across disciplines, with special focus on his legendary frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Full-page reproductions and enlarged details invite readers to study the depth, technique, and emotion embedded in his art.

Alongside the visual journey, a compelling biographical essay reveals the complex man behind the masterpieces—his reclusive personality, his relentless drive for commissions and wealth, and his unexpected success as a property investor. This volume offers an essential look into the life and legacy of one of history’s greatest artistic minds.

Michelangelo: The Complete Works: Paintings, Sculptures, Architecture

Editorial Review

“If a visit to the Sistine Chapel is not on the cards, this magnificent book is the next best thing…” ― The Sunday Express Magazine

About the Author

Christof Thoenes (1928–2018) studied art history in Berlin and Pavia, before completing his doctorate in Berlin. Thoenes was Honorary Professor in Hamburg and worked many years for the Bibliotheca Hertziana (Max-Planck-Institute) in Rome. He contributed to numerous publications on Italian art, particularly on architecture and architectural theory of the 15th to 18th centuries.

Frank Zöllner wrote his doctoral thesis on motifs originating from Antiquity in the history of art and architecture of the Medieval and Renaissance periods (1987). He is also the author of a postdoctoral treatise on motion and expression in the art of Leonardo da Vinci, published in 2010. He has published numerous works on Renaissance art and art theory, and on 20th-century art. Since 1996 he has been Professor of Medieval and Modern Art at the University of Leipzig. For TASCHEN he has authored the XL monographs on Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

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