Michelangelo: The Vatican Frescoes

This book has really changed my perspective in regards to Michelangelo, especially my perspective of being put off by the incessant nudity. I still find all the nudity a bit too much, but I can now at least appreciate Michelangelo for the great genius that he was. The explantions about the meanings of the paintings are very good. Also, the sheer scale of this undertaking and his monumental problem solving skills in painting this problematic irregular shaped surface are extraordinary. The details about the conservation work gives insight into 500 years of history including damage from an explosion of gunpowder stored in Castel San Angelo close to the time of the French Revolution. I now can appreciate the marvelous beauty of his figures (even though the women look like men, they are incredibly beautiful once I could get over how strange these beefy broads look!)

Being an admirer of the magnificent Michelangelo I am very pleased to have acquired this book. The pictures are beautifully printed. By the end of the book I wish to revisit the Sistine Chapel to view those parts printed in the book which I have obviously missed with my naked eyes. The details of the restoration work is an added bonus. To get the most of this book, please read it together with "Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling" by Ross King. You will not regret the experience. Michelangelo's frescoes are simply sublime!

The photographs in this book are too good to be believed. I have never had an art book on the Sistine Chapel before that so moved me.It was obviously produced with great care -- the colors look perfect, the focus is perfect. I can't rave about this book enough. And so complete! You will know every nook and cranny of the Chapel when you finish this book.Well worth more than what you pay for it.

This is an absolutely superb book, largely because the reproductions of the frescoes are excellent and really capture the colors that you see when you visit the Chapel. I have found many art books disappointing, because they simply fail to capture the works they present. I first saw this book in an American bookstore after visiting the Sistine Chapel, and really thrilled to see if after looking at several other books where colors were much duller and the images simply not as sharp. In addition to its fine colors, the book provides many fine closeups of each individual section. The text is also very good, describing the subjects of the painting, the history behind the paintings, ansd also the recent restorstion. This is a must-have book!

The scope of this edition is astounding. With closeups of each individual section and a glorious 4-page foldout of the entire ceiling, all the majesty of Michelangelo's masterpiece is brought breathtakingly to life. If you can't afford to fly to Italy to see the original, buy this book.

Ive seen portions of the old paintings in other publications, but there's nothing like this VERY COLLECTIBLE piece. Its a treasure, because of the painstaking care in preserving the original authenticity of the works, and allowing you to closely examine the "before" detail, and then the "after" restoration detail. Most of all, the book allowed me to gain an appreciation that I never had for this great artist. Thanks