The book presents a comprehensive account of Michael Angelo's life and artistic career, drawing heavily upon the contemporary record written by his friend and pupil Ascanio Condivi. The author traces the master's noble lineage from the Counts of Canossa to his birth in the Casentino, detailing his early rejection of letters in favor of the chisel and his entry into the cultural circle of Lorenzo the Magnificent at San Marco.
The narrative examines the creation of Michelangelo's monumental works, including the early relief of the Centaurs, the Bacchus, the Pietà in Saint Peter's, and the colossal David. It details the artist's complex relationships with four successive Popes—Julius the second, Leo the tenth, Clement the seventh, and Paul the third—whose patronage provided immense opportunities while generating severe professional friction.
A central focus is given to the prolonged dispute surrounding the tomb of Pope Julius the second, which Michelangelo himself termed a tragedy due to repeated interruptions and malicious interference from rivals such as Bramante. The author meticulously corrects historical misconceptions regarding payments and the master's obligations, establishing the truth of his financial accounting.
The volume details the immense physical and mental exertion required to paint the vault of the Sistine Chapel, executed by Michelangelo almost entirely without assistance. It describes the evolution of his composition from the creation of the world to the fall of man, the prophets and sibyls, and the ultimate creation of the Last Judgment on the end wall.
The latter chapters explore Michelangelo's work on the Medici sacristy and tombs at San Lorenzo, his role as commissary-general of fortifications during the siege of Florence, and his final years in Rome as architect of Saint Peter's. The narrative highlights his deep study of anatomy, his devotion to Dante and Petrarch, and his friendships with intellectual figures and the Marchioness of Pescara.
The work concludes with a critical assessment of the master's unrivaled genius, technical mastery, and profound influence on the arts, portraying him as an artist who surpassed antiquity and remained peerless among his contemporaries.
