Arts

Latchis Arts presents 'Michelangelo: Love and Death'

BRATTLEBORO — Latchis Arts presents the season finale of its popular new Exhibition on Screen, which features compelling documentary films about artists and their work.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 17 and 18, at 4 p.m., at the Latchis Theatre, 50 Main St., Brattleboro, the series features Michelangelo: Love and Death, a bold new biography of one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance.

The spectacular sculptures and paintings of Michelangelo seem so familiar to us, but what do we really know about this renaissance genius? Who was this ambitious and passionate man?

A virtuoso craftsman, Michelangelo's artistry is evident in everything he touched. Beautiful and diverse works such as the towering statue of David, the deeply moving Pietà in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter and his tour-de-force, the Sistine Chapel ceiling still leave us breathless.

Spanning his 89 years, Michelangelo: Love and Death takes a cinematic journey from the print and drawing rooms of Europe through the great chapels and museums of Florence, Rome, and the Vatican to explore the tempestuous life of Michelangelo. We go in search of a greater understanding of this most charismatic figure, his relationship with his contemporaries, and his valuable artistic legacy, according to a news release.

Through expert commentary and Michelangelo's own words, the film takes a fresh look at an enigmatic artist. The film also offers a rare chance to get up close to the mesmerizing Rothschild Bronzes, which, following an extensive research project carried out in 2015, were positively attributed to Michelangelo after more than a century of debate.

Key contributors to the film include art critics Martin Gayford and Jonathan Jones, Deputy Director of the Vatican Museums Professor Arnold Nesselrath and contemporary artist Tania Kovats. The film is directed by David Bickerstaff and produced by Phil Grabsky, as part of the pioneering series Exhibition on Screen.

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