Michelangelo's Nose: A Myth and Its Maker

Rating:
Summary: a compelling goal without solid footholds
Review: Barolsky proposes that Michelangelo invented himself. This self-creation combines allusions to Socrates, St. Paul, Moses, God, Dante, and David. Michelangelo apparently constructed, or perhaps scuplted, the image of himself that comes down to us through Vasari and his descendents. It's an interesting and provocative thesis which undoubtedly has some merit. However, this book delves into untethered speculations - or that's my impression without doing the research myself. There's a lot of "mights" and "very well could haves" and a lot of appreciating ironies that are admitted to be unlikely, if not impossible connections. This kind of thing works with a more playful tone (a la Rem Koolhaas's "Delirious New York") but fails to convince and leaves the reader to sort the interesting trivia from the half-inspired speculations.