Michelangelo Buonarroti was born in a small town in Italy in 1475. From the time he was a boy, he wanted to be an artist. But Michelangelo would struggle throughout his life to perfect his skills and realize his artistic vision while being buffeted by the whims of those who would be his patrons, especially leading figures in the Catholic Church. Diane Stanley’s portrait of the artist whose work as painter, sculptor, and architect stands unparalleled in the minds of many reveals Michelangelo’s temperament as well as the parade of political and religious egos that often left him feeling battered. Stanley’s full-color illustrations in watercolor, colored pencil, and gouache have a lush, Renaissance feel. Some contain computer-inserted reproductions of Michalangelo’s art. (Ages 9-14)