Becoming Michelangelo: Apprenticing to the Master, and Discovering the Artist through His Drawings
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
Becoming Michelangelo: Apprenticing to the Master, and Discovering the Artist through His Drawings Details
Review “A remarkable inquiry into artistic creation. . . . This revelatory book is a must for art students and those seeking new insights into [Michelangelo’s] art.”—Kirkus Reviews "Bernini, Picasso, and Mozart were prodigies; not Michelangelo. He worked hard to become a genius. This wonderfully readable and personal account of Michelangelo’s early years reminds us that that becoming a genius requires work and unwavering dedication. Alan Pascuzzi, an accomplished historian and—equally important—a highly successful, sensitive, and insightful artist, combines a rare set of skills that permits him to tell the story of how an unlikely Florentine became the greatest artist of all time. Michelangelo did it. After reading this book, you too might feel the inspiration 'to create masters out of mere mortals like us.'”—William E. Wallace, Barbara Murphy Bryant Distinguished Professor of Art History, Washington University in St. Louis "This original personal meditation on Michelangelo, audaciously maps out how the artist drew with the diligence of a methodical craftsman and raised his art to the level of genius, all in the grand context of those turbulent times.From the micro to the macro, a wonderful romp through Michelangelo's heart and mind!"—Terence Ward, author of The Guardian of Mercy: How an Extraordinary Painting by Caravaggio Changed an Ordinary Life Today “In our digital age, when many artists dismiss the foundational importance of drawing, Becoming Michelangelo provides a powerful counterpoint. As a college student three decades ago, Alan had one goal: to get inside the head (and hands) of the great Renaissance artists. Now a PhD art historian, and a master painter and sculptor specializing in Renaissance techniques, Alan is in a unique position to provide insights into the physical, conceptual, and aesthetic aspects of some of the greatest art ever produced. Becoming Michelangelo is a riveting account of a process of discovery that no one has ever undertaken before.”—Ron Netsky, professor of art, Nazareth College “Alan Pascuzzi tells the fascinating story of what happened when he started copying Michelangelo’s drawings and soon found himself virtually apprenticed to the master. Attempting to ‘become’ Michelangelo, he developed a unique appreciation of how Michelangelo himself became the graphic artist we recognize and admire today. General readers will appreciate Pascuzzi’s fast pace and down-to-earth tone, full of observations and insights that are sure to open the eyes of experts, too.”—Gary M. Radke, professor emeritus of art history, Syracuse University Read more About the Author Alan Pascuzzi is a painter, sculptor, and professor of art history who received a Fulbright scholarship to travel to Florence and apprentice himself to Michelangelo. He copied all 135 of Michelangelo's extant drawings from the period covered in his book from originals in various museums. He has been teaching Renaissance art techniques to students for more than a decade. He has appeared in TV documentaries on Renaissance art, including the BBC's The Color Blue and Inside the Mind of Leonardo and on 60 Minutes. He lives in Florence. Read more
Reviews
This book is an enjoyable read. I read 1-2 books per week and it took me longer than typical to get through, reading a bedtime. I looked forward to it every day though and found myself going to bed a little early to have some extra time to read it. I found it fascinating to hear the journey, training, and materials used during Michelangelo's time. And Dr. Pascuzzi's journey as well. I have always been a wanna-be artist and with great effort can produce art at a basic level of proficiency. In contrast, I have an artist daughter who seems to have a much easier time of it. This book wasn't just a historical journey, but also helped me understand how to practice my skills on a practical level. I think it's a wonderful book and that it would help any aspiring artist become a better artist.