Three Worlds of Michelangelo
by James Beck
W.W. Norton and Company

To understand art, it has been said, one must first understand the artist. In "Three Worlds of Michelangelo," author James Beck has taken on an artist whose contribution to the canon is, perhaps, second to none. While relatively modest in length, "Three Worlds" covers a great deal of territory as it tries to keep up with the growth and development of an artist often described in terms normally reserved for inhabitants of paradise.

Rich with quotes from letters and contemporary sources, Mr. Beck often does a very competent job of bringing out the spirit of the times, and of cities such as Florence and Rome.

If the book has any significant failings, they stem from the fact that Mr. Beck is a professional art historian. While "Three Worlds" is understandably concerned with the development of Michelangelo's career and his evolution as an artist, Mr. Beck occasionally goes overboard and over-documents some of the specific episodes of the artist's life. While an extended exploration of the political bickering surrounding the placement of Michelangelo's legendary statue of David might be somewhat illustrative of the balance between art and politics, it's also dull, and seems to miss the point of the book: the development of Michelangelo's art and personality.

Other episodes that detail major creations are much more relevant and absorbing; the obligatory look at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is very well done, and explores the artist's stormy relationship with his patron, Pope Julius II.

In a sense, the whole book is consumed with the idea of fatherhood: Michelangelo's natural father, Lodovico, is a difficult character, and Beck's detailed examination of correspondence and supporting evidence relating to him sheds considerable light on Michelangelo's own experiences. Many words are also devoted to exploring the artist's relationship with his first major patron, Lorenzo di Medici, and the rabble-rousing, arguably martyred friar Savonarola, best known for the original Bonfire of the Vanities.

"Three Worlds of Michelangelo" is one of those books that fall right within the sweet spot of scholarly writing; it's accessible enough to be read by almost anyone with an interest in the topic, but its level of detail and use of sources are likely to be pleasing to a reader with more formal training in the subject. While it may be impossible to completely understand a man as complicated as Michelangelo Buonarroti, "Three Worlds" gives us a well-lit place to begin.

— James Norton (jrnorton@flakmag.com)