If you want to learn about Caravaggio, this is a classic, covering all of his works. With emphasis on the paintings, they are arranged in chronological order. Personal background, of which little is known, provides only a surface analysis on the artist's personality. Technique, style and other art aspects are covered in depth and used as a basis of dating the works. Also, discussed is symbolism, often relating the Bible stories the subjects depict. Hibbard clearly sets Caravaggio's progression in historical context and how it parallels his artistic development.
From various sources and his own conclusions, he offers psychological speculation (and indentifies it as such) into the works' personal significance for Caravaggio as the creator. Even so, this is not a biography and the personality analysis is rather dry and minimal. Relationships with his peers are treated equally as briefly.
Appendices of contemporary sources are included, in Italian, usually (original language) and translated into English, which are interesting to peruse, but provide little more to flesh out Caravaggio's personality. The reproductions of the paintings are mostly black and white, with 8 colour plates in the middle of the book. The writing style is straightforward and easy to follow, but rather flat. Even so, this is a very insightful and important work, so I recommend it highly.

In one of my last classes for my degree, this book was the required text. I am awed by Caravaggio's work anyway, but combine that with Howard Hibbert's insightful text and you have an amazing book. I would definitely recommend this text for anyone interested in this fantastic artist.

Caravaggio is one of the greatest artists of the 17th century. In a very brief period of time he managed to exert a influence over all of European painting.

Caravaggio was the original bad boy of the art world. He was willing to use well known prostitutes as models when portraying the Virgin Mary or to show saints with dirty feet. This offended authorities in Baroque Rome and Caravaggio was often a trial to his patrons. During the majority of his active career he was on the lam fleeing from a murder charge. He burst on the Roman art scene during the height of its influence and spent his last days in Malta in the company of the knights.

Although Caravaggio's influence was immense immediately after his death where his masterful use of light and shadow was immitated by countless lesser artists. For a number of years Caravaggio's reputation declined. Raphael's influence dominated academic art and Caravaggio's relatively harsh realism was in disfavor. It was only in the 1950's when a major evaluation occurred.

This book by Howard Hibbard is probably the first of these modern reevaluations of Caravaggio and it is still one of the best. Professor Hibbard is one of the country's leading art historians and he brings considerable scholarship to his study of Caravaggio's work. Although there are plenty of other books on Caravaggio, I think that this book is still the best of lot in terms of understanding Caravaggio's art (his life was sufficiently messy and his sexuality ambiguous to spur the mills of contemporary scholarship for many years). Professor Hibbard's writing is sufficiently free from academic claptrap to make it an invaluable guide to both the specialist and the novice.

I love this book! I've never explored any art history books before, but this was a great first experience. Hibbard has a gift for explaining all of the details of Bernini's works, without bombarding you with unknown lingo or being long-winded. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you plan on going to Italy someday.

Although out of print, the Hibbard book is well worth finding. It not only displays much of the best of the Met's extensive collection in all artistic areas and describes them with errudition, it also gives a brief summary of the development of the collection and biographies of some of its contributors and early directors. When I first moved to New York, this was one of the first books I purchased. I visited a section of the museum to get a feel for the display, then read this and another book on the art styles and artists of that particular period, then returned to visit the collection with newly educated eyes. It was a tremendous experience. I must admit, it took me months to actually get through most of the museum, but by God, with the aid of this book, I got nearly everything out of those visits a person can!

I am using this book for a college level course in Art History and am finding it very useful. The cronological format and detailed events throughout Michelangelo's life are both very helpful and I am learning quite a lot just from this one book. I do wish that there were color plates to go along with the text *there are black and white images, though*. Otherwise, it is highly educational and an interesting read. A very good buy!

In _Michelangelo_, Hibbard presents a unbiased account of Michelangelo's life in an enjoyable mix of historical narravitve and critical and contextual analysis. The writing is approachable with a minimum of high-brow art jargon. Hibbard also refrains from diving too deep into speculation about fine points such as sexuality and politics. This book is suited for those desiring an end-to-end introduction to the man and his art, or for those who have forgotten 90% of art survey 101, like me.

There is probably no greater art historian in the second half of the 20th century than Howard Hibbard and this book is one of his best. Professor Hibbard, who has also written books on Caravaggio and a study of Poussin turns his attention to Michelanglo. This is not a rehash of The Agony and Ecstasy, Professor Hibbard's interest is in the work and the artist and not a study of the outward events of this great artist's life. I found Professor Hibbord's criticism insightful and interesting. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in the renaissance.