Secondly, political rivalry and wars other than religious fanaticism surrounded Michelangelo’s era. Similarly, Soderini is even afraid that the cardinal might show his wrath to Florence as a whole while revenging Michelangelo. Out of frustration Michelangelo leaves Rome and back at home his father Lodovico is upset that his son had failed the cardinal. The cardinal instead fails to suggest a specific topic for his work and even after months of waiting for Michelangelo, the former is reluctant. When Michelangelo is first summoned to Rome, he expects the cardinal to direct him on what to do. The storyline having happened in the sixteenth century first brings in the essence of power that the Roman Catholic had at the time and similar reverence that people had for the church. On his death bed, just before his ninetieth birthday, he is smiling perhaps because of how much he had achieved in his life. While his age is deterring speed in assignments given, he receives divine assistance and trains his assistants on how they should finish the work. His last assignment is on ‘the last judgment’ given onto him by the new pope also on the Sistine chapel. He is later commissioned to paint the twelve apostles on the Sistine Chapel which he does. His visit to Rome is fruitless and he goes back to Florence though later he heeds to Pope Julius’ call at Bologna where he also shortly reunites with Clarissa. He does not finish his duty as he is summoned to Rome. He develops animosity towards Leonardo as he considers him arrogant. At Florence, he secures a position to sculpt at the duomo where Leonardo turns down the offer. He briefly works on the marble at Bologna and even has his first relationship with Clarrisa before going back to Florence after his assignment. He is disillusioned when Lorenzo dies and opts to leave Florence for Bologna with some of his friends. He does magnificent work which includes Hercules and David. He enjoys life at the palace where Lorenzo treats him well. Bertoldo requires him to excel in wax and clay before going into marble though he steals his way onto the marble garden where his talent is spotted by Lorenzo Medici who calls him to stay at the palace.
When opportunity arises he and Granacci are sent by Ghirlandaio to learn sculpting where they become apprentices of Bertoldo. While doing sketches Michelangelo realizes that he has greater liking for marble and sculpturing that comes with it. The novel starts with Michelangelo as a teenager- thirteen years of age- enrolling as a student of Ghirlandaio, a great painter at the time. The book was published in 1961 and its primary source is Michelangelo’s letters initially written in Italian (Stone 1-5). It is a biographical novel of the great Italian renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarotti. The agony and the ecstasy is the work of Irving Stone who is an American author.
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