Mysterium Magnum ─ Michelangelo's Tondo Doni

Stefaniak, who received her doctorate in art history from the U. of California-Berkeley, has taken the tondo painted by Michelangelo in 1504, and analyzed it thoroughly. The painting of the Virgin Mary, Jesus and Joseph, with nude young men in the background might confuse the casual viewer. Stefaniak begins by reviewing earlier interpretations of the painting before presenting her own. She puts it in the context of Florentine society, the life and beliefs of Michelangelo and classical models. The work is also considered in the light of contemporary religious trends, particularly the increased importance of St. Joseph in popular worship. This study is well-illustrated with b&w images and a few color plates. It is meticulously footnoted and will give students of art much to consider. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Regina Stefaniak, Ph.D. (1989) in History of Art, University of California at Berkeley, is an independent scholar in Berkeley, California. She has published extensively on fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Italian art in its cultural context, including essays on such artists as Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, Correggio, Rosso Fiorentino and Parmigianino.