Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni exercised a huge influence on the development of Western art. He is considered a nominee for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man; along with Leonardo da Vinci. Michelangelo was the first Western artist whose biography was published while he was alive. Giorgio Vasari proposed that he was the high point of all artistic achievement of the Renaissance. In his era Michelangelo was characterized as Il Divino ("the divine one"). One of the qualities most respected by his contemporaries was his "terribilitagrave;"; a sense of greatness; which raises admiration; and thats driving the next generation of artists to imitate Michelangelo by trying one very passionate and very personal style; leading them to the mannerisms. In this way Michelangelo; indirectly; marked the beginning of the next major movement in Western art - that of Mannerism.
#1857585 in eBooks 2014-09-01 2014-09-01File Name: B00S5MO830
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating lifeBy Matthew KI first learned who Chuck Close was when he was on The Colbert Report back in August--that night I ordered both Chuck Close: Work and Chuck Close: Life. Now three months later I finally got time to read the book; and I am very pleased I ordered it. Not knowing anything about Chuck or the art world in general; it was incredibly fascinating to have an inside look at other artists and how the art world operated(both from Chucks perspective as well as the authors; who was an art world insider).As another reviewer as said; the author is a friend of Chucks and I do agree that he is at times boasting about Chucks ability; but I dont think this necessarily takes anything away from the book. And probably; had the author not been a good friend of Chucks; the book wouldnt contain the immense amount of personal information that it does; which adds a lot to understanding Chuck.There was also a comment about the images not being of the highest quality; this is true; but Chuck Close: Life is meant to be a companion to Chuck Close: Work; the works shown in Life are meant simply to show the change in Chucks technique over the years. If one is looking to gawk over his work for long periods of time and intently study the images; probably Work is where you should look. Sadly; due to business and laziness; I still havent removed the shrink wrap from Chuck Close: Work; so I cant comment on the quality of the images in that book. One thing that I definitely noticed right away is that Life is a very sturdy book--nice binding and big thick pages (no doubt Chuck saw to it that the book would hold up)--and probably the lack of image quality comes from the absorbency of the paper and its cream color.I think the only negative comment Id leave about Chuck Close: Life is that the author really isnt a very good writer. It almost became a game to spot words that the author seemed to have learned while writing different sections of the book; and he then decided to use that word as often as possible: tour de force is used to describe like the first half dozen works Chuck creates after Big Nude; aplomb is overused in the span of three or four pages to describe Chuck and his wife (and maybe other people--again; see: overused); and the case is the same with au courant at the end of the book (because other people only need to be up to date on the art world once Chuck has become famous?).Nevertheless; still 5 stars.UPDATE: I was just reading through the reviews Id written; and I should really take back what I said about the author being a bad writer. He is a fine writer; he just likes to use fancy; and perhaps somewhat-unnecessary; language sometimes.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. TRUE GRIT-By drkhimxzAmong the most respected American artists of his generation; a member in good standing of the New York City cultural elite; honored by exhibitions throughout the world; recipient of many awards for his service to Art and to Humanity; Chuck Close has had it all....except his fair share of perceptual; neurological and immunological characteristics. This fine biography; at the request; and with the full participation; of its subject; and cooperation of his family; friends; fellow-members of the art world; and consumers of his product; captures the human drama of a man imbued with a lust for achievement who surmounted minor as well as devastating barriers; to become an icon of personal survival in an often nightmarish experiential world. While there was the major shock of becoming a "partial paraplegic" in his late forties; it was daily coping with extraordinary incursions on independent living that has sunk many others into impenetrable despair; that required the courage and commitment that he possessed to a superior degree than most; in order for him to continue his professional successes and add to them other significant contributions. Without bathos the author retails the early challenges of dyslexia and neurological weaknesses as well as the later critical illnesses and the manner in which he coped and surmounted the difficulties. His family relationships are detailed with some suggestive hypotheses as to their impact on him without the tedious and tendentious speculation that so mars many other contemporary biographies. His mother and his wife were clearly dominant in their very different ways in influencing his personal adjustments; as were a number of named teachers; colleagues; and previous artists in his professional life. The author is quite good at suggesting the travails that his wife endured due to his illness; but only she can know the cost to her of the wracking anxieties and emotional stress that her role imposed upon her. The author; a long time friend; aptly sketches the technical nature of his artistic growth but defers here to the thorough treatment of Closes work in his earlier book devoted to that theme.Overall; a biography that should be of considerable interest to the general reader to whom it is addressed as well as to those with greater involvement in the art world who will find valuable insight into one of their own.11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. insightfulBy Eileen Cressman-ReederI ordered this book after seeing an interview with the artist and author on PBS Newshour. The book provides insight into the artist and the art world. It is a declaration of the power of the arts in our school system. Mr. Closes statement; "Yale or jail"; brings home the point that higher education should be available to all.I was interested in how Chuck Close developed his work and the struggles in finding his voice while keeping his beliefs in tact. This book provides inspiration and courage to anyone who has the vision to succeed.
