Anatomy of a Genius. Review on Agony And The Ecstacy, The - Irving Stone

The present book covers the extraordinary life of sculptor, painter and architect Michelangelo Buonarotti. Not only was his body of work astounding he lived in an epoch of great turbulence. Along with Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo created some extraordinary art in that renaissance period which was also marked by the Reformation.

The novel traces the difficult life that Michelangelo had. He belonged to a decaying noble family where people were expected to learn a trade and join for instance the wool guild. But Micheangelo managed to become apprentice to a famous artist in his hometown Florence. He soon became bored and joined the sculpture garden of the ruler of the Florentine city-state.

Little by little Michelangelo became the foremost artist of his time.Many regarded him the greatest ever. He was mad about his work. Till he died at a ripe age he found solace in his hard work.He did not marry because he thought that a wife would come in the way. Most of his great work was done in Rome and Florence. His well-known works included the giant staue of David, the carving of the 'Pieta', the painting of the sistine chapel in Rome and the dome of St Peters.

Michelangelo's great gift was that he could bring out the innate beauty of his subject and magnify it several times in the final form. Lastly I think Michelangelo was not normal by any means and the present book could have been much better written.