Introduction
The agony and the ecstasy is the work of Irving Stone who is an American author. It is a biographical novel of the great Italian renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarotti. The book was published in 1961 and its primary source is Michelangelo’s letters initially written in Italian (Stone 1-5).
The novel starts with Michelangelo as a teenager- thirteen years of age- enrolling as a student of Ghirlandaio, a great painter at the time. While doing sketches Michelangelo realizes that he has greater liking for marble and sculpturing that comes with it. When opportunity arises he and Granacci are sent by Ghirlandaio to learn sculpting where they become apprentices of Bertoldo. 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. He enjoys life at the palace where Lorenzo treats him well. He does magnificent work which includes Hercules and David. He is disillusioned when Lorenzo dies and opts to leave Florence for Bologna with some of his friends.
Summary of the book
He briefly works on the marble at Bologna and even has his first relationship with Clarrisa before going back to Florence after his assignment. At Florence, he secures a position to sculpt at the duomo where Leonardo turns down the offer. He develops animosity towards Leonardo as he considers him arrogant. He does not finish his duty as he is summoned to Rome. 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 is later commissioned to paint the twelve apostles on the Sistine Chapel which he does. His last assignment is on ‘the last judgment’ given onto him by the new pope also on the Sistine chapel. While his age is deterring speed in assignments given, he receives divine assistance and trains his assistants on how they should finish the work. On his death bed, just before his ninetieth birthday, he is smiling perhaps because of how much he had achieved in his life.
Historical content of the book
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. When Michelangelo is first summoned to Rome, he expects the cardinal to direct him on what to do. The cardinal instead fails to suggest a specific topic for his work and even after months of waiting for Michelangelo, the former is reluctant. Out of frustration Michelangelo leaves Rome and back at home his father Lodovico is upset that his son had failed the cardinal. Similarly, Soderini is even afraid that the cardinal might show his wrath to Florence as a whole while revenging Michelangelo.
Secondly, political rivalry and wars other than religious fanaticism surrounded Michelangelo’s era. This is exemplified in Michelangelo being a victim of circumstances due to changes in leadership in both the political and religious arenas. He is sued by descendants of Pope Julius under the claims of violating his contract with him- for abandoning work on Julius’ tomb. This is at a time he was finishing his work on the tomb of Lorenzo, a duty assigned to him by the Medici brothers who made him abandon Pope Julius’ tomb in the first place.
Third, the essence of apprenticeship as the method of learning is presented in the book. Michelangelo first joins Ghirlandaio to learn painting then Bertoldo. He also teaches his assistants mainly though apprenticeship as the art did not employ formal learning.
The book opened me to a system of hard and tiring work for Michelangelo. One will sympathize with the mental image that comes of his dripping with paints all over while doing the Sistine Chapel. His diligence and curiosity is admirable, especially when he dissects corpses to understand anatomy better. This is the knowledge he applies when doing the sculpture of David.
There is heroism in the book yet presence of normal human beings. Michelangelo himself is a hero who fulfils his duties because he is diligent and has interest for what he is doing. However, we are also introduced to a system of jealousy and high levels of rivalry. Michelangelo hates Leonardo, not so much for his good painting but his self righteous image which Michelangelo sees as arrogance. Michelangelo himself encounters artists who are jealous of his achievements and are out to destroy him. In this category are Torrigiani, who actually disfigures Michelangelo’s face, Bramante who does not want the Pope to relate well with Michelangelo and Perugino who tries to defame him. Michelangelo is a staunch believer but also gets involved with three different women.
Personal evaluation of the book
In reading the novel I have come to appreciate art. Its nobleness and challenges are more or less like any other field of study today and should be treated with equal if not more concern.
Works Cited
Stone Irving, “The Agony and the Ecstasy” 1987. New York: Penguin Books. Print