Historical fiction book · Curated
The Agony and the Ecstasy
Irving Stone · historical fiction
Apprenticed in Medici Florence, Michelangelo Buonarroti wrestles marble, popes, and his own fury from the David through the Sistine ceiling to the dome of St. Peter’s—while Renaissance Italy tears through poisoning princes and warring pontiffs. Irving Stone’s 1961 novel is early-modern biographical historical fiction of genius and patronage: the artist’s life at the center of sixteenth-century Florence and Rome.
Why read it: A perennial title-search Renaissance biographical novel—the Michelangelo classic (and 1965 film) readers still look up by name, and a sculptor’s-life counterpart to The Marriage Portrait already on the shelf.
About this historical novel
The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone is historical fiction set around 1475–1564 in the Early modern period with key settings including Florence, Rome, Carrara, Vatican. Apprenticed in Medici Florence, Michelangelo Buonarroti wrestles marble, popes, and his own fury from the David through the Sistine ceiling to the dome of St. Peter’s—while Renaissance Italy tears through poisoning princes and warring pontiffs. Irving Stone’s 1961 novel is early-modern biographical historical fiction of genius and patronage: the artist’s life at the center of sixteenth-century Florence and Rome.
On HisFic we tag it under 4. Biographical fiction and 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include art, genius, faith, patronage, and Renaissance. A perennial title-search Renaissance biographical novel—the Michelangelo classic (and 1965 film) readers still look up by name, and a sculptor’s-life counterpart to The Marriage Portrait already on the shelf.
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Plot summary
Apprenticed in Medici Florence, Michelangelo Buonarroti wrestles marble, popes, and his own fury from the David through the Sistine ceiling to the dome of St. Peter’s—while Renaissance Italy tears through poisoning princes and warring pontiffs. Irving Stone’s 1961 novel is early-modern biographical historical fiction of genius and patronage: the artist’s life at the center of sixteenth-century Florence and Rome. A perennial title-search Renaissance biographical novel—the Michelangelo classic (and 1965 film) readers still look up by name, and a sculptor’s-life counterpart to The Marriage Portrait already on the shelf.
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Regions & places
Europe
Florence · Rome · Carrara · Vatican · Italy
Themes
- art
- genius
- faith
- patronage
- Renaissance
Tags
classic · biographical · bestseller