First printing. Octavo; hardcover, in full cloth, with gilt spine and upper board titles and decorations; 158pp., top edges dyed teal, with a monochrome portrait frontispiece and 31 plates likewise. Minor wear. Slipcase, with morocco head and heel, with some marks on one side. The book is in perfect condition.

Michelangelo (1475-1564) was a sculptor, painter and architect widely considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance period - and arguably of all time. His work demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen. His contemporaries recognized his extraordinary talent, and Michelangelo received commissions from some of the most wealthy and powerful men of his day, including popes and others affiliated with the Catholic Church. His resulting work, most notably his Pieta and David sculptures and Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings, has been carefully tended and preserved, ensuring that future generations would be able to view and appreciate Michelangelo's genius. Vasari's biography of the artist is the essential source for all information regarding the famous Florentine.