Il Gigante: Michelangelo, Florence and the David, 1492-1504 - Hardcover

Anton Gill's Il Gigante: Michelangelo, Florence and the "David", 1492-1504 retells the story of the politically volatile and artistically vibrant city of Florence at the turn of the 16th century. The book covers the period "between the death of Lorenzo de' Medici in April 1492 through to the placing of Michelangelo's early masterpiece of sculpture, his David, in the Piazza della Signoria in summer, 1504". However, although the second half of the book focuses more closely on Michelangelo's artistic genius and the creation of the David, Gill's general aim is to re-create the artistic spirit of Florence as the epicentre of the Renaissance, "an age of dawning rationalism", and personified in the art of Botticelli, Leonardo and, of course, Michelangelo.

Gill has a good feeling for the political sweep of the period, and breezes through Medici rule, the rise of Savonarola, the Borgia to tell a story of papal corruption and political instability, which attempts to locate Michelangelo himself in the midst of a rapidly changing world. However, this is an old story, of both the Renaissance and Michelangelo. Even as an introduction to both the period and the artists, Il Gigante is breathtakingly general, with absolutely no concern with or reference towards the recent generations of classic books written on Florentine politics and art. As a result, Gill's story loses sight of Michelangelo's remarkable statue, which could do with a readable new study of its origins and creation. Sadly Gill's book does not achieve this. It is old-fashioned and ill informed, even for a reader new to the topic. --Jerry Brotton

As an introduction to the Italian Renaissance IL GIGANTE could hardly be bettered - Jonathan Patrick, Scotland on Sunday There is certainly nothing rushed about this excellent account of the world's greatest sculptor... Through Gill's sensitive and accessible reading of the David in particular we can perhaps feel a little closer to the man [Michelangelo]... It would be well-deserved if this book is as successful as those by [Dava] Sobel and [Ross] King - Gill is a perceptive and accessible critic - Lesley McDowell, Sunday Herald A few pages into Anton Gill's new book and any readers who have ever seen a Renaissance painting or sculpture will be packing their bags and heading for Italy. Not a page goes by without the excitement and drama of this period catching at your imagination... a compelling story that is well told - Alistair McAlpine, Country Living There is much of value in this short book... richness of information and interest... and handsomeness of the tribute it pays to a fascinating time, a deserving city, and a truly great artist - A C Grayling Gill's project may be ambitious, but his style and approach are aimed firmly at the general reader. In this he succeeds admirably and as an introduction to the Italian Renaissance IL GIGANTE could hardly be bettered - Daily Mail