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  • Michelangelo, God's Architect

  • The Story of His Final Years and Greatest Masterpiece
  • By: William E. Wallace
  • Narrated by: Simon Callow
  • Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (13 ratings)
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Michelangelo, God's Architect

By: William E. Wallace
Narrated by: Simon Callow
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Summary

In this audiobook, acclaimed actor Simon Callow narrates the gripping untold story of Michelangelo's final decades - and his transformation into one of the greatest architects of the Italian Renaissance

As he entered his 70s, the great Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo despaired that his productive years were past. Anguished by the death of friends and discouraged by the loss of commissions to younger artists, this supreme painter and sculptor began carving his own tomb. It was at this unlikely moment that fate intervened to task Michelangelo with the most ambitious and daunting project of his long creative life.

Michelangelo, God's Architect is the first book to tell the full story of Michelangelo's final two decades, when the peerless artist refashioned himself into the master architect of St. Peter’s Basilica and other major buildings. When the Pope handed Michelangelo control of the St. Peter’s project in 1546, it was a study in architectural mismanagement, plagued by flawed design and faulty engineering. Assessing the situation with his uncompromising eye and razor-sharp intellect, Michelangelo overcame the furious resistance of church officials to persuade the Pope that it was time to start over.

Leading Michelangelo expert William Wallace sheds new light on this least familiar part of Michelangelo’s biography, revealing a creative genius who was also a skilled engineer and enterprising businessman. The challenge of building St. Peter’s deepened Michelangelo’s faith, Wallace shows. Fighting the intrigues of church politics and his own declining health, Michelangelo became convinced that he was destined to build the largest and most magnificent church ever conceived. And he was determined to live long enough that no other architect could alter his design.

William E. Wallace is the Barbara Murphy Bryant distinguished professor of art history at Washington University in St. Louis. His books include Discovering Michelangelo: The Art Lover's Guide to Understanding Michelangelo's Masterpieces, Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man, and His Times, and Michelangelo at San Lorenzo.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 William E. Wallace (P)2019 Princeton University Press

What listeners say about Michelangelo, God's Architect

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A captivating read by Simon Callow

This marvellous book reveals the story of Michelangelo's later life as the master architect of St Peter's Basilica, from Michelangelo's seventieth year to his death aged 88.

Simon Callow masterfully brings to life the witty, vibrant prose of William E. Wallace, one of the most distinguished living writers on Michelangelo, together producing a poignant and thoughtful book for anyone reflecting on their own life and ambition.

Highly recommended!

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Beautifully read and also enlightening !

Beautifully soft deep voice of the narrator, who reads with a great sympathy for his subject.
For some people it might seem a bit dry in places can raise the story is very well told And extremely interesting revealing some of the work I was not so aware of particularly the amount of work that went into Saint Peters in Rome.

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Both narrative and narration are great.

A wonderful book for anyone with an interest in Italian art of the period.

It provides context and answers questions I had about how ia Pauline Chapel frescoes, Tomb Julius II, Porta Pia and especially St. Peter’s came into being.

In general the narration is brilliant. Only the pronunciation of some of the names was unclear. For example “Dzja-eta” is not a combination of sounds I can relate to written Italian. (Possibly was “Gaeta” (?))

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First class

Well worth a listen. Would be great to have the same authors full biography of subject on audible.

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