| Ascanio
Condivi was a young pupil and assistant of Michelangelo's who gained
the trust and confidence of the great artist. His biography of Michelangelo
to a large extent is based on the artist's own words, tells the story
of his life, his relationship with his patrons, his objectives as
an artist, and his accomplishments, forming the basis of a biography
that has been central to the study of Michelangelo for four centuries.
The significance of Condivi's text was recognized early on. Within
fifteen years of its publication in 1553, Vasari incorporated much
of it to correct and revise his biography of Michelangelo in the second
edition of his Lives of the Artists. But, although Vasari knew
Michelangelo well, the sculptor never confided in him to the extent
that he did in Condivi, making this the indispensable source for the
life of Michelangelo.
First published in 1976, this translation is now available in paperback
for the first time and includes a revised introduction based on
new research, as well as an up-to-date bibliography and endnotes
section. |
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