''Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling'' is a 2002 book written by Ross King, a Canadian novelist and non-fiction writer. It garnered nominations in 2003 for the Governor-General's Literary Award (Canada) and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Overview

Pope Julius II commissioned

Michelangelo Buonarroti Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (; 6 March 1475 – 18 February 1564), known as Michelangelo (), was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was insp ...

to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel in Rome. Michelangelo had little experience as a frescoist. Despite his initial reluctance and subsequent disagreements with Julius, Michelangelo perseveres. King addresses a number of myths generated over the years (many of which were propagated in the film drama '' The Agony and the Ecstasy'') about the process and completion of the frescoes.

Critical response

In a 2003 book review by ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' called the book "A legend-busting, richly detailed account of the four-year making of the Sistine Chapel frescos." Michael McNay, in his review for ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'', called the book, "a good read" and praised King's "feel for daily life and an enthusiasm for the basics", but rejects King's view as improbable that Pope Julius allowed Michelangelo authority over the iconology of the work." Boyd Tonkin, writing for ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'', wrote; "King deftly stitches modern Michelangelo scholarship into his fluent and gripping narrative. The result is a delightful book that overturns many legends."

References

2002 non-fiction books Bloomsbury Publishing books Cultural depictions of Michelangelo {{art-hist-book-stub