The agony and the ecstasy 1961 is a biographical novel of michelangelo buonarroti written by american author irving stone. Irving stone books list of books by author irving stone. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. This book is brilliantly illustrated and profusely written. It combines fact and fiction as seamlessly as can be, providing an insightful and extremely educative examination of renaissance italy and michelangelo as a person and an artist. Writing michelangelo buonarrotis life is a tough option. He also tells us of the tribulations, distress and passion that surrounded the. Even more unfortunately for her, when i was 14 my mom handed me a copy of the agony and the ecstasy by irving stone. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 776 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. In the 1960s, stone received an honorary doctorate of letters from the university of southern california, where he had previously earned a masters degree from the college of letters, arts, and sciences. A san francisco native, stone attended uc berkeley where he studied political science and economy. Dec 27, 2009 william wallace, a professor of art history at washington university in st. The second book is a little lower, but it is not the fault of irving stone.
Irving stone was born in san francisco on july 14, 1903. In 1923, stone received his bachelors degree from the university of california, berkeley. A biographical novel of michelangelo, and lust for life, and more on. Irving stone writes out of intimate personal acquaintance with the marble quarries, the. The story begins when michelangelo is a young apprentice and ends with his death at 89. The agony and the ecstasy by irving stone content rating. In his masterful portrayal of michelangelo s fouryear effort to fill the 12,000 square foot, vaulted ceiling of the sistine chapel with new frescoes for pope julius ii, a commission michelangelo had tried to avoid, ross king examines and places in context the known details of michelangelo s life, the images he includes in the frescoes, and his. In his architectural works michelangelo defied the conventions of his time. Even without that, the subject matter michelangelo and the burgeoning period which gave him life and stones proven ability to convey the excitement and passion of genius as in lust for life would guarantee an immense and eager audience. This is irving stones powerful and passionate biographical novel of michelangelo.
It is a work of literature that has enriched my life. Unger michelangelo and the popes ceiling by ross king michelangelo. The agony and the ecstasy irving stone elif the reader. Celebrating the 500th anniversary of michelangelos da. Official edition, vatican pavilion new york worlds fair, inc. Irving stones the agony and the ecstasy was a magnificent literary biographical novel of the renowned and beloved artist michelangelo. Its an immensely long novel but fully rewarding on every count. A biographical novel of michelangelo audiobook by irving stone read online the agony and the ecstasy.
Dec 25, 2017 there are quite a few ways of approaching michelangelo through the studies and biographies published since the very first works done during his lifetime. We already have vasaris lives of the painters, irving stones novel. A primary source for the novel is michelangelos correspondence, all 495 letters of which stone had translated from italian by charles speroni and published in 1962 as i, michelangelo. Irving stone recreates the wonders and struggles of renaissance italy. As one of michelangelos biggest fans, i can truly say that irving stone did an incredible job on this biographical novel. See more ideas about irving stone, my books and stone. Thank you, irving stone, for this masterpiece of a book. Michelangelo buonarrati, the great italian artist of the fifteenth century, the creator of the david and the pieta, painter of the sistine chapel, architect of the st. New documentary materials discovered by rolf bagemihl add to the early history of the stone block that became the david and provide an identity for the painted terracotta colossus that stood on the cathedral buttresses for which michelangelos statue was to be a companion. For michelangelo, h e believed that sculptor s w ere to free the forms that were already inside the stone. The agony and the ecstasy audiobook by irving stone.
The agony and the ecstasy is a biographical novel of michelangelo buonarroti written by american author irving stone. In my opinion the best books about michelangelo are in no particular order. With so much historical fact, though, and so much based on michelangelos own letters, coupled with the extensive research that stone did, the book ends up reading as if it were written by a firsthand observer of michelangelos life. Reviews of michelangelo include by booklist that wrote one of the most pleasing things about stanleys books is the way her sturdy texts stand up to her strong artwork. Michelangelo every block of stone has a statue inside it. Stone lived in italy for quite a long time going to a considerable lot of the areas in rome and florence, worked in marble quarries, and apprenticed himself to a marble artist. Michelangelo for kids is entertaining and is exactly the sort of nonfiction book i would have picked up when i was 9 or 10.
Michelangelo by irving stone, 9783499222290, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Irving stones most popular book is the agony and the ecstasy. The agony and the ecstasy by irving stone is, in my opinion, one of the greatest biographical novels of all time. Books by irving stone author of the agony and the ecstasy. It begins when sigmund freud met his faithful martha her red fullbodied lips also palpitant with the sweetness of life and ends 900 or more pages later at his death. From his teenage years, before which im assuming very little is known, right up to his death, irving stone does his very best to cover it all in detail. The agony and the ecstasy by irving stone content rating and. Please distinguish between this work, irving stone s 1961 novel the agony and the ecstasy.
Irving stone has 76 books on goodreads with 241988 ratings. This is stones finest novel and the just announced selection as april bom, will give it added impetus. A biographical novel of michelangelo, and the similarly titled the agony and the ecstasy. Michelangelo buonarroti 14751564 was a sculptor, architect, and painter of genius and a poet and writer of great accomplishment. Though written for children, adults will enjoy it, too. Listen to the agony and the ecstasy a biographical novel of michelangelo by irving stone available from rakuten kobo. The agony and the ecstasy, irving stone born right in the midst of the renaissance, michelangelo is a brilliant artist living through turbulent times in italy. Biographischer roman stone, irving, kaempfer, hans isbn. Torrigiani punches michelangelo in the nose, breaking it. I, michelangelo, sculptor by irving stone goodreads. Thats particularly evident here and the school library journal that stated she stanley has crafted a picture book biography that is as readable as it is useful. The first edition of the novel was published in 1958, and was written by irving stone.
Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account. The drawings of michelangelo master draughtsman series. Though he impresses his first painting master, michelangelo longs to be a sculpter, only feeling at home with a hammer and chisel in his hand as he brings to life the being. Irving stone s most popular book is the agony and the ecstasy. The agony and the ecstasy is a biographical novel of the life of michelangelo. This is the fictional biography of michelangelo buonarroti, the creator of the sistine chapel ceiling, the dome of st. A life in six masterpieces provides insightful perspective. He also tells us of the tribulations, distress and passion that surrounded the conception and creation of the sculptors famous. Irving stone provides a lively presentation of the past world of the florentines and expert. Irving stone, original name irving tennenbaum, born july 14, 1903, san franciscodied aug. High school, historical fiction, ya over 18 no comments.
The agony and the ecstasy by irving stone overdrive. He wrote several books in a genre that he coined the biographical novel, which recounted the lives of wellknown historical figures. He believed that every stone had a sculpture within it, ready to be shown to the world. Louis, is widely considered americas preeminent authority on michelangelo. Stone specialised in what he called biographical novels of major artists. Millions more have read the irving stone book on which it was based, first published in 1961 and still regularly reprinted. In these works, stone would novelize accounts of real people, based on meticulous research nndb. At 31 he was considered the finest artist in italy, perhaps the world. The artist, the merchant, and the statesman, of the age of the medici, and of our own times new york.
Irving stone s the agony and the ecstasy was a magnificent literary biographical novel of the renowned and beloved artist michelangelo. The complete paintings, sculptures and architecture. Overall michelangelo was by all accounts an extremely touchy, proud, arrogant, and difficult man. Irving stone s powerful and passionate biographical novel of michelangelo. The passions of the mind wont cater to the intellect and might even question the fortitude of irving stone s existing readership. It beautifully details the complexity, not only of the man, but a lifetime of his works, including the many and famous sculptures from carrara marble, paintings, frescos and architecture, not only in florence. In these novels, stone interspersed biography with fictional narrative on.
Stone lived in italy for years visiting many of the locations in rome and florence, worked in marble quarries, and apprenticed himself to a marble sculptor. A new biography of michelangelo by martin gayford, the acclaimed author of constable in love and the yellow house there was an epic sweep to michelangelo s life. When you know that you have written a book like lust for life, the ordinary human instinct is to imitate oneself, to create something of the same order, but the moment you imitate it cannot be the same. In these novels, stone interspersed biography with fictional narrative on the psychology and private lives of his subjects. A real page turner from beginning to end giving us a well rounded portrait of one of the greatest artistic geniuses of all times. March 17, 1961 this is stones finest novel and the just announced selection as april bom, will give it added impetus. Jan 01, 2015 putting michelangelos life and legacy into proper context is of vital importance and this task has been left in capable hands.
Short stories and new writing in celebration of the world cup edited by nicholas royle. The agony and the ecstasy by irving stone abebooks. Irving stone 19031989 was born irving tannenbaum, but later adopted his stepfathers last name. A biographical novel of michelangelo ebook by irving stone find out the agony and the ecstasy irving stone pdf download get the agony and the ecstasy irving stone zip download bestseller the. The letters chosen by irving stone provide a rare insight into what life was really like in 15th and 16th century italy. The agony and the ecstasy by irving stone goodreads. This ought not to be so, because his first biographers.
Read the agony and the ecstasy pdf by irving stone berkley listen to the agony and the ecstasy. Peters, and many of the most beautiful sculptures in art. One simple way to start looking at his life is by reading the section of vasaris lives of th. Michelangelo buonarroti michelangelo buonarroti, 14751564. The agony and the ecstasy book summary and study guide. This is irving stone s powerful and passionate biographical novel of michelangelo. Harris has produced for us a book on michelangelo, the greatest artistic genius of the renaissance period of art. Download michelangelo pdf irving stone,michelangelo,herbig. Irving stone relied heavily on these letters when writing the agony and the ecstasy 1962, his epic biographical novel of michelangelo adapted to a hollywood film of the same name starring charlton heston in 1965. The book is very old but still in great condition, its a piece of history, dated by a handwritten 1973 on the inside cover, i loved that about it. See all books authored by irving stone, including the agony and the ecstasy. Irving stone is a genius at making you feel like you are really thereexperiencing michelangelos joys and sorrows, successes and setbacks right.
This is not to dismiss out of the hand that can barely hold it stone s research of. List of books and articles about michelangelo online. This massive book is subtitled a biographical novel of michelangelo and it certainly attempts that feat. Stone was careful not to take liberties too far, as well. His timethe turbulent renaissance, the years of poisoning princes, warring popes, and the allpowerful demedici family.
The story of michelangelos pieta by stone irving abebooks. Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. He was born in caprese, where his father, a florentine nobleman, was the visiting magistrate. The agony and the ecstasy, a novel of michelangelo. The great adventure of michelangelo by irving stone. Michelangelos frescoes in the sistine chapelthe great glory of vatican art and one of the most treasured masterpieces of western paintingprovide a visual feast for art lovers in this magnificent, affordable new book. A life in six masterpieces provides insightful perspective on michelangelo. Irving stone provides a lively presentation of the past world of the florentines and expert descriptions of the artists sculptures and paintings. The drawings of michelangelo master draughtsman series michelangelo buonarroti, irving stone on. First let me say that i really enjoyed this book and my time reading it was. Irving stone project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Peters dome, comes to life once again through the pages of irving stones tempestuous novel, the agony and the ecstasy. Zollner, the book s editor and author, is a professor of.
Michelangelo buonarotti, creator of david, painter of the sistine ceiling, architect of the dome of st peters, lives once more in the tempestuous, powerful pages of irving stone s marvellous book. Irving stone writes out of intimate personal acquaintance with the marble quarries, the studios of sculptors and one finds almost exhausting identification with michelangelos tortuous performance. Purchased a used copy of the origin by irving stone. Although michelangelo was known as a sculptor, painter and architect, his greatest love was the marble, and this book. A biographical novel of michelangelo by irving stone 1987, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. This book takes a new look at the interpretations of, and the historical information surrounding, michelangelos david. Edwards lester, botta, and amerigo vespucci page images at hathitrust michelangelo buonarroti, 14751564. Very good informative book about the life and works of michelangelo. Irving stone was a california writer best known for his biographical novels, a genre which owes its contemporary form largely to stone s first novel of biohistory, lust for life evory, 642. This book is historical fiction probably more fiction than historical, if were being honest, and is about the life of michelangelo buonarroti. These monumental works were painstakingly researched, skilfully wrought and profoundly silly. Of course, the book is nearly 800 pages long and spans nearly 80 years of michelangelos life, so this is appropriate.
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