Editor's introduction

Michelangelo Buonarroti achieved such renown in his lifetime that he was widely known and celebrated as Il Divino, or the Divine One. In 500 years, his fame has scarcely diminished. Michelangelo is generally recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time, a universal genius in all fields of visual creativity-sculpture, painting, and architecture-as well as a widely admired poet.

Accessible to readers-useful to specialistsMuch has been written on Michelangelo. By 1970, the number of scholarly books and articles exceeded 4,000, approximately a tenth in English. In the past 25 years, the literature has grown exponentially, with a notable increase in English-language publications. This five-volume series reproduces some 100 articles in English, selected from a broad range of books and journals. The collection is both accessible to the general reader and useful to the specialist, offering a representative sample of old and new commentary on the artist and his work.

Close to 100 photographs in each volumeThis collection also presents the artwork which illustrated the books and articles from which it is drawn-some 500 black-and-white photographs in all.

Offer scholarship and creative thinkingThese volumes introduce the reader to a wide range of scholarship and some of the best minds in the discipline, including Johannes Wilde, Erwin Panofsky, Charles de Tolnay, Rudolf Wittkower, Edgar Wind, and James Ackerman. The volumes offer easy access to an immense and widely scattered literature, much of it difficult to locate. The collection will be especially useful to scholars, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates. As journals become prohibitively expensive, and as materials are increasingly moved to storage facilities, this collection will prove a welcome addition to general and specialized art libraries.

The career of a geniusArticles are arranged chronologically with separate volumes covering the artist's early lifeand works, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, commissions associated with San Lorenzo, the tomb of Julius II and other Roman projects, and a final volume devoted to drawings, poetry, and miscellaneous studies. Spanning his entire 89-year life, the articles explore Michelangelo's prodigious creativity as an artist, thinker, and poet. The sheer quantity of what has been written on Michelangelo can be intimidating; most students have little sense of how to approach or effectively utilize the vast literature. By presenting a varied introduction to a great artist, this collection is a handy reference tool for a wide array of topics, problems, and literature. Individual volumes available:

Vol. 1 Life and Early Works

544 pages, ISBN 0-8153-1823-5

Vol. 2 The Sistine Chapel

616 pages, ISBN 0-8153-1825-1

Vol. 3 San Lorenzo

496 pages, ISBN0-8153-1826-X

Vol. 4 Tomb of Julius II and Other Works in Rome

488 pages, ISBN 0-8153-1827-8

Vol. 5 Drawings,Poetry, and Miscellaneous Studies472 pages, ISBN 0-8153-1826-8</P>