Michelangelo and the Art of Letter Writing

Michelangelos extant correspondence is the most abundant of any artist. Spanning 67 years it comprises roughly 1400 letters of which 500 were written by Michelangelo himself. Biographers and art historians have combed the letters for insight into Michelangelos views on art his contractual obligations and his relationships. Literary scholars have explored parallels between the letters and Michelangelos poetry. Nevertheless this is the first book to study the letters for their intrinsically literary qualities. In this volume Deborah Parker examines Michelangelos use of language as a means of understanding the creative process of this extraordinary artist. His letters often revel in witticisms rhetorical flourishes and linguistic ingenuity. Close study of his mastery of words and modes of self-presentation shows Michelangelo to be a consummate artist who deploys the resources of language to considerable effect.