In the pantheon of Western art, no master occupies a higher place than Michelangelo, and his drawings, at the core of his achievement as painter, sculptor and architect, have long been sought by collectors. The collection of drawings by Michelangelo at the Royal Library at Windsor is extraordinarily rich, particularly in presentation sheets - elaborately finished drawings made by the master as gifts for friends or, occasionally, as designs for other artists' projects. Highly valued and very influential, these drawings were much sought after by younger artists and were engraved, copied and re-copied. This volume examines twenty-two supreme examples of Michelangelo's draughtsmanship, and fifty-one works by his contemporaries and followers, demonstrating the impact of an artist - referred to as divine, even in his own lifetime - on the imagination, style, and imagery of his era.

Illustrated by: Buonarroti Michelangelo