The Life of Michelangelo

by Ascanio Condivi
Publisher: Athene
Pages: 175

Ascanio was a moderately talented painter sculptor and architect from Ripatransone in the Marches.
He is remembered today for his biography of his friend Michelangelo Buonarroti.
This biography is divided into three parts: To the Pope "Julius III", to "The Readers" and "The Life of Michelangelo"
According to historical documents at that times, there were a strong competition between Ascanio Condivi, from Ripatransone, the first and authorised biographer of Michelangelo and the antagonist Giorgio Vasari from Florence.

A reason for their hatred is their geographic origin, one from a miniscule and unknown village and the other from the city.
Most probably Vasari did not accepted that Ascanio was a friend of Michelangelo

According to some literary critics Ascanio was the unique biographer this is proved by this biography and in particular when Ascanio reveals the intimate life of Michelangelo.
(Dialogue between Michelangelo and Pope Julius III)

"I've already told your holiness that this is not my art; all that I've done is spoiled; if you do not believe it send and see" (P.100)

In my opinion this is the proof that only a close friend is able to witness this "special relationship" .

Reading this biography we will read the reason why Michelangelo changed his last name to Buonarrotti, his childhood in Florence at the time of "The Magnificent Lorenzo" , we will read a detailed description of the preparatory drawing, for the lower storey of Julius Tomb, the competition between Michelangelo and Raphael, the meaning and detailed description of "The separation of land from water (Sistine Ceiling), the Fall of Man (Sistine Ceiling), The Pietà and Moses.

In the last paragraph summarise the noble soul of Ascanio Condivi:

"I hope before long to bring out some of Michael Angelo's sonnets and madrigals, which I have for a long time collected, both from himself and from others, that the world may know the worth of his imaginations and how many beautiful conceits were born in his divine spirit. And with this I make an end"

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The Ripatransone Digital Library

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