The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo's Forbidden Messages in the Heart of the Vatican by Benjamin Blech

Jun 13, 2008

Ryan rated it

· review of another edition

I'm tempted to say that there is a lot to learn from this book. However, it is marred by a procession of errors and mistakes so bad that the editor should be fired and the authors should be embarrassed.

And, I'm not talking about any of the controversial stuff. Before I even get to the Jewish history and so-called secrets, I am distracted by a level of factual inaccuracy that had previously been reserved to just Dan Brown - but he writes novels. That an academic book would be so ridd...moreI'm tempted to say that there is a lot to learn from this book. However, it is marred by a procession of errors and mistakes so bad that the editor should be fired and the authors should be embarrassed.

And, I'm not talking about any of the controversial stuff. Before I even get to the Jewish history and so-called secrets, I am distracted by a level of factual inaccuracy that had previously been reserved to just Dan Brown - but he writes novels. That an academic book would be so riddled with problems is insulting to the reader and the wider public that don't have the ability or interest to fact-check their casual reading.

Here are some examples:

On page 156 the authors state that Pope John XXIII has become a saint. This is false. It is simply mistaken. It is not controversial or secretive, it is simply incorrect. The language is very clear: "Four decades after his death, Pope John XXIII underwent a name change. He is now officially Saint John XXIII..." This is the equivalent of saying that Al Gore is President of the United States: It's just not true. THEN the mistake is REPEATED on page 289!!

On pages 118, 219, and 286 the authors refer to Saint Peter's Basillica in Rome as a Cathedral. It is NOT a Cathedral. A Cathedral is a church that is the seat of a bishop. The pope is bishop of Rome, and his seat is Saint John in Lateran Church (a simple wikipedia search, or any guide book, on the two churches will testify to this fact.)

On page 93 the authors, writing of how Michelangelo somewhat scandalously signed his name to his Pieta sculpture in Rome in 1499 (other sources claim 1501), claim, "He escaped before the Swiss Guardsmen, who most likely would have decapitated any intruder on the spot, could catch him." Well, there are indeed Swiss Guards in Saint Peter's Basilica today, but any high level knowledge of Vatican history would tell you that they arrived first in 1506. When Michelangelo was signing his name to the Pieta, THE SWISS GUARDS WEREN'T THERE YET. To not rely on just Wikipedia for confirmation of this (as the authors of this supposedly academic book sometimes do in one of their shockingly rare citations), i checked two respectable sources: Ross King's acclaimed book Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, which on 206, tells of Pope Julius II initiating the Swiss Guard in 1506; and the actual Guardia Svizzera Pontificia Rapporto Annuale 2003 (Pontifical Swiss Guard Annual Report 2003), which in a table titled I Commandanti della Guardia Svizzera Ponteficia (The Commanders of the Pontifical Swiss Guard), traces the lineage of their leadership back to one Kaspar von Silenen, who began in 1506!!

Sistine Secrets explores previously ignored or avoided aspects of the history of the Sistine Chapel and of Michelangelo, and it is perhaps likely that the authors bring to us treasure troves of background and knowledge about the Talmud, Kabbalah and Midrash of Jewish culture. But, how can I trust them about those subjects about which I previously knew nothing when on the things that I AM familiar with they are so unattractively mistaken?

Dan Brown we can forgive for his many falsehoods, because he is a novelist. But, that a rabbi and a Judaica expert write an academic book with so much uncontroversial sloppiness - if it is true that Michelangelo was hiding secret messages of Jewish background into his work, certainly tihs book does a great disservice to it. For these reasons, despite great excitement and eagerness to learn at the outset, I found the book to be a great disappointment.

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Sep 10, 2009

Patrick Gibson rated it

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Shelves: history, truth_sort-of

The premise of this book is two fold: first, Leonardo was a closet Jew … or a Jew wannabe. Second, since he painted under duress, he had four years to come up with all kinds of hidden symbols in the frescos. And why not? The Pope and his minions where corrupt politicians and the Catholic Church was essentially a secular oligarchy and Michelangelo was pissed most of the time.

While the point was well made within the first few pages, it is really enlightening and fun just to see how f...moreThe premise of this book is two fold: first, Leonardo was a closet Jew … or a Jew wannabe. Second, since he painted under duress, he had four years to come up with all kinds of hidden symbols in the frescos. And why not? The Pope and his minions where corrupt politicians and the Catholic Church was essentially a secular oligarchy and Michelangelo was pissed most of the time.

While the point was well made within the first few pages, it is really enlightening and fun just to see how far the artist went with his subversives. And there are lots of interesting tidbits.
The Sistine was built to the exact measurements of the first Temple which is highly insulting to Jews yet there is Jewish symbolism throughout the building. (Michelangelo had nothing to do with the building of the chapel.) As a matter of fact, throughout the entire ceiling, there is not a single Christian image.

There was a keen interest in Sign Language during the Renaissance. In the Madonna of the Rocks (daVinci) three of the figures spell out L. D. V. I always thought the hand positions in this painting were weird. Now it is so obvious. This subversive little trick persisted into modern times—the Daniel French sculpture in the Lincoln Memorial: the hands spell. A.L. Oh, man—how come I never noticed that?

Many of the images on the ceiling have had to be reevaluated and reinterpreted after the great twelve year cleaning in the 90’s. New characters emerged, scrolls with written messages hadn’t been seen in 400 years, hand and arm positions all of a sudden sprouted obscene gestures, previously thought male characters became female, a couple angels bump genitals and there is a famous panel showing, perhaps, the first Renaissance blow job (putting aside the Egyptian, Greeks and Romans).

The book is a full semester study—with a great professor. He guides you through some complicated things the casual observer would never know. The direction in which fresco characters look is important. The color of their clothes is symbolic. There is a single spot in the chapel where all the trompe l’oeuil are aligned perfectly, which is the center of a ten ring circle of life mosaic on the floor where the Pope kneels during services (behind the partition which has seven lanterns in the shape of a menorah).

Pope Julius II commissioned the artist for a series of frescos depicting the life of Christ. The fact not one image from the New Testament adorns the ceiling is amazing. This is during the time of the Inquisition—and just how Michelangelo got away with this is part of the fun.

It’s not a definitive study of the frescoes and I suppose I would have to call it ‘Renaissance Lite.’ But it is packed with fascinating facets.

The frescos are sixty feet from the viewer and many of the minute details were never meant to be seen. Now, with million pixel cameras and the ability to get within inches from the paint and plaster, Michelangelo’s temperament and humor are brilliantly exposed.
The book abounds with photos of the murals—most in black and white (and many photos taken before the cleaning, which I don’t understand and kind of ticked me off).

I went on line and bookmarked the Virtual Sistine Chapel and viewed the images there as I read. This is a Vatican website and the detail is amazing. Even if you don’t read the book check this out: www.wga.hu/tours/sistina/index.html I encourage you, and Michelangelo thanks you.
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Apr 03, 2011

Linda Harkins rated it

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Celebrated author and professor Rabbi Blech and Roy Doliner, Jewish docent and interpreter for the Vatican Museums, successfully introduced much about the Kabbalah, Midrash, Hebrew numerology, Jewish mystical knowledge, and Michelangelo that I didn't know. Nevertheless, their thesis of the true meaning behind the frescoes and Michelangelo's intentions in portraying various characters and scenes as he did in the Sistine (after Sixtus IV)ceiling remains speculative at best. They aim to shock and...more

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Sep 25, 2009

Stephen rated it

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I love reading about art, and the codes in art, but this book took a wee bit of Cabbala and turned it into an entire book. They were not the first to notice no Christian characters are on the ceiling, nor were they the first to notice that the Last Judgment was shaped at the top rather like two stone tablets.

Throughout the book I found myself going "duh." Only the most naive of art lovers would miss a star of David anywhere, in any work from that period. To me, the loo...more

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Aug 04, 2011

Sylvia Ttl rated it

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Shelves: art, history

This book seems to be highly controversial among the critics on Amazon.com. The skeptics claim that the writing style is loose and repetitive; and those secret messages are said to be highly arbitrary and speculative with no backing evidence, riding on the bandwagon of "Da Vinci Code". Whatever they say, none of them is plausible enough to rebut the authors' proposition about Michelangelo's love for all humanity. That will be great if a real and more conclusive interpretation of his ar...more

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Feb 11, 2010

Dennis Meier rated it

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The theory that the frescoes Michelangelo painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are a collective "in your face" to Pope Julius and the Vatican are intriguing, but the book doesn't persuade me. At least not yet.

Starting with Book Two, the book offers many examples of how Michelangelo was secretly giving the business to the Vatican, but the conjectures have no more substance than urban myth. The book doesn't provide compelling corroborative evidence, aside from a coup...more

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Jun 26, 2011

Tracy rated it

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Most fascinating book I read last year. As an artist and lover of Michelangelo's work...I was ecstatic when my brother-in-law gave me this to read during a visit to his home. I was astonished at all I didn't know about this artist and his work...the risks this man took...the back-breaking labor over the course of painting the Sistine Chapel...his hatred for the Pope...and his sheer genius on many levels. He was commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel when he'd never even painted a fresco before...more

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May 06, 2011

Alison rated it

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Great insight to one of the most famous pieces of art in the world. As a Catholic it is hard hearing about all the corruption but it is important information that needs to be known. When reading this book it is important to keep in mind that the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, much like all other pieces of art, have a variety of interpretations. Each person can take the hidden messages and symbols for something different. One thing to remember is that we do not have any of Michaelangelo's n...more

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Jan 24, 2010

Liza Wiemer rated it

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My family and I were privileged to travel with author Roy Doliner throughout Rome. We saw the Sistine Chapel and the hidden secrets in person with him. His research and knowledge blew us away. I highly recommend opening your mind to the possibility of these revelations! Mysterious and intriguing, whether or not you fully embrace these secrets as truth. This book and the authors were featured on Good Morning America and 20/20! The intro of the book was written by Enrico Bruschini, "one ...more

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Jul 27, 2011

Apryl Anderson rated it

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I loved this! I've read about & visited so much of Michelangelo's life & times, and this book reads like a culmination. Who knows what seemingly random facts & events add up to equal a masterpiece?

We can't be certain that every detail is entirely correct, there is much supposition here, but most importantly, what will I do with what I've learned through reading?

The overall message of the book is that of reconciliation, and it is beautiful!

The book jacket is an engineering masterwork in its o...more

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Jul 07, 2010

Lisa H rated it

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Shelves: biographical, historical, religion, non-fiction, art, lgbt, favorites, own

This book is amazing. Other apt titles for this well-written, intriguing book would be "The Michelangelo Code" or, more simply, "The Bridge". What most of us think of as the most Christian painting on earth is in fact infused with commentary against the actions of the Church and for a much more universal outlook on religion than has been realized today. Before reading this book I thought that Michelangelo was an artistic genius, but now I see that he is so much more than that...more

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Jul 01, 2010

Ryan added it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: people who will actually further research the material, and no one else

(page numbers cited are from the print editions)

I'm tempted to say that there is a lot to learn from this book. However, it is marred by a procession of errors and mistakes so bad that the editor should be fired and the authors should be embarrassed.

And, I'm not talking about any of the controversial stuff. Before I even get to the Jewish history and so-called secrets, I am distracted by a level of factual inaccuracy that had previously been reserved to just Dan Brown - ...more(page numbers cited are from the print editions)

I'm tempted to say that there is a lot to learn from this book. However, it is marred by a procession of errors and mistakes so bad that the editor should be fired and the authors should be embarrassed.

And, I'm not talking about any of the controversial stuff. Before I even get to the Jewish history and so-called secrets, I am distracted by a level of factual inaccuracy that had previously been reserved to just Dan Brown - but he writes novels. That an academic book would be so riddled with problems is insulting to the reader and the wider public that don't have the ability or interest to fact-check their casual reading.

Here are some examples:

On page 156 the authors state that Pope John XXIII has become a saint. This is false. It is simply mistaken. It is not controversial or secretive, it is simply incorrect. The language is very clear: "Four decades after his death, Pope John XXIII underwent a name change. He is now officially Saint John XXIII..." This is the equivalent of saying that Al Gore is President of the United States: It's just not true. THEN the mistake is REPEATED on page 289!!

On pages 118, 219, and 286 the authors refer to Saint Peter's Basillica in Rome as a Cathedral. It is NOT a Cathedral. A Cathedral is a church that is the seat of a bishop. The pope is bishop of Rome, and his seat is Saint John in Lateran Church (a simple wikipedia search, or any guide book, on the two churches will testify to this fact.)

On page 93 the authors, writing of how Michelangelo somewhat scandalously signed his name to his Pieta sculpture in Rome in 1499 (other sources claim 1501), claim, "He escaped before the Swiss Guardsmen, who most likely would have decapitated any intruder on the spot, could catch him." Well, there are indeed Swiss Guards in Saint Peter's Basilica today, but any high level knowledge of Vatican history would tell you that they arrived first in 1506. When Michelangelo was signing his name to the Pieta, THE SWISS GUARDS WEREN'T THERE YET. To not rely on just Wikipedia for confirmation of this (as the authors of this supposedly academic book sometimes do in one of their shockingly rare citations), i checked two respectable sources: Ross King's acclaimed book Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, which on 206, tells of Pope Julius II initiating the Swiss Guard in 1506; and the actual Guardia Svizzera Pontificia Rapporto Annuale 2003 (Pontifical Swiss Guard Annual Report 2003), which in a table titled I Commandanti della Guardia Svizzera Ponteficia (The Commanders of the Pontifical Swiss Guard), traces the lineage of their leadership back to one Kaspar von Silenen, who began in 1506!!

Sistine Secrets explores previously ignored or avoided aspects of the history of the Sistine Chapel and of Michelangelo, and it is perhaps likely that the authors bring to us treasure troves of background and knowledge about the Talmud, Kabbalah and Midrash of Jewish culture. But, how can I trust them about those subjects about which I previously knew nothing when on the things that I AM familiar with they are so unattractively mistaken?

Dan Brown we can forgive for his many falsehoods, because he is a novelist. But, that a rabbi and a Judaica expert write an academic book with so much uncontroversial sloppiness - if it is true that Michelangelo was hiding secret messages of Jewish background into his work, certainly tihs book does a great disservice to it. For these reasons, despite great excitement and eagerness to learn at the outset, I found the book to be a great disappointment.
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Aug 30, 2009

Cheri rated it

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Although interesting at many points, the author(s) take too much liberty allowing conspiracy theories and their own imaginations override the facts.

If you want an actual book on the mind of Michelangelo during the creation of his famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, read: Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (King).

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling (Paperback)

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Sep 17, 2009

Tiffany Johnson rated it

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When I started this book, I thought of Michelangelo as this submissive painter who dutifully spent most of his life doing what other people told him.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. He was a great rebel. He used his incredible mind to outwit his opponents, and history has shown how he has prevailed. Few people know the names of the popes who commissioned him to paint and sculpt for their own glory... but everyone knows the name of Michelangelo Buonarroti. (or at least his first nam...moreWhen I started this book, I thought of Michelangelo as this submissive painter who dutifully spent most of his life doing what other people told him.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. He was a great rebel. He used his incredible mind to outwit his opponents, and history has shown how he has prevailed. Few people know the names of the popes who commissioned him to paint and sculpt for their own glory... but everyone knows the name of Michelangelo Buonarroti. (or at least his first name)
Painters in those days were humble folk. They could not sign their own work, nor were they paid well in most cases. The rich sought artists to draw attention to their palaces and chapels, but had no real appreciation for art or its meaning.
Michelangelo, originally from Florence, had no desire to spend most of his days in Rome. However, since the great Church tortured and killed anyone who opposed them, he found himself enslaved many times to commissions he felt totally unsuited for. The Sistine Chapel was one such commission.
Clearly he turned what he felt to be a death sentence into an opportunity to let his voice be heard- through his painting. Growing up in Florence, his unique education from wise masters led him to be an expert in all things Jewish, Greco-Roman, and Neoplatonic. His extraordinary ability to combine these widely different faiths and philosophies is what makes his work so unforgettable.
The results of this commission were not what the papacy had in mind. Their sacred Christian chapel was filled to capacity with images from the Hebrew Bible- most of them naked. More than one pope wanted to destroy the ceiling fresco, but none was able to rediscover how to create the "flying bow bridge" Buonarroti had designed just for this purpose. In fact, he was so ahead of his time that five centuries would pass before engineers were able to reconstruct the scaffolding that allowed them to clean the ceiling.
Every image painted in that chapel is imbued with meaning based on Michelangelo's personal philosophy. It is in essence his soul, laid bare for all who take the time to really see it. (less)

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Jun 17, 2010

Andrew rated it

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Forget Dan Brown and the fictional "Davinci Code". This is a description of Michelangelo's hidden messages in the frescos of the Sistine Chapel. Authors Ray Doliner and Rabbi Benjamin Blech contend that the entire theme of the Sistine paintings is anti-clerical, with insults aimed at the commissioning Pope, Julius II. This is a richly detailed story that starts with the background to the Sistine Chapel; the hiding of messages by artists in their work; and Michelangelo's life story. ...moreForget Dan Brown and the fictional "Davinci Code". This is a description of Michelangelo's hidden messages in the frescos of the Sistine Chapel. Authors Ray Doliner and Rabbi Benjamin Blech contend that the entire theme of the Sistine paintings is anti-clerical, with insults aimed at the commissioning Pope, Julius II. This is a richly detailed story that starts with the background to the Sistine Chapel; the hiding of messages by artists in their work; and Michelangelo's life story.

The second half deals specifically with the paintings and how they were done, as well as their history since Michelangelo Buonarroti completed them. Among the hidden messages they identify are:
* insults directed at the Pope by the puti or angels surrounding him
* extensive symbols and story lines from the Hebrew Kabbalah, including differences between the Christian and Jewish telling of the story of the Garden of Eden
* Hebrew letters hidden in the outlines of characters in the paintings
* why God's backside is shown in the central painting where the Sun is created
* how outlines of human body parts, including the kidney and the brain appear within the images.

The authors note that in the Creation panel, it took until 1975 for an Indiana doctor, Frank Mershberger, to realize that the cape and cloth in the famous "Creation of Adam" panel outline the cross-section of the RIGHT side of the human brain.

The reason? Blech and Doliner say that it echoes the Kabbalistic belief that the right side of the brain is linked to wisdom and that Michelangelo deliberately imbedded the image knowing that fact.

There are dozens of other messages in these huge frescos and hidden reflections on the life and times of Michelangelo. It includes reflections on Michelangelo's secret dissections of dead human bodies at a time that it was prohibited. And they argue that they even represent Michelangelo's bisexuality or love of male figure.

This is a very good read for Renaissance history, art history and the history of religion.

The illustrations support the book well but this story cries out of an interactive DVD with color closeups of the Sistine ceiling.

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Nov 17, 2008

Eric rated it

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Recommends it for: Any history fan

This book was really good. I always wondered why all the women in Michaelangelo's works were such "handsome" women....interesting take on the Sistine Chapel and Michaelangelo's hidden digs at the Catholic Church, the Pope at the time, etc. It points out various facets of the Sistine Chapel, of which I was unaware - I did not know it was modeled after the Temple of Solomon and I did not know that Michaelangelo used such controversial and almost heretical themes.

There were...more

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Dec 12, 2011

Brandon Schultz rated it

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Five stars for creating a work I could not put down and presenting a wildly fascinating, conspiracy-of-one theory on an already exhilarating topic. The thoughts presented should be taken with more than a simple grain of salt; however, the intellectual entertainment value of these speculations is worth the read. Otherwise, a fabulous guide to the art of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, drawing attention to often overlooked details. I will bring this book on my next return to the Chapel.

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Mar 07, 2011

Michell rated it

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Esta capilla realmente es ASOMBROSA, aun que no sepamos su significado no deja de sorprendernos esta impresionante obra de arte fruto de la inspiración de Michelangelo. Pero cuando conocemos su significado, su apreciación se hace mejor. Esta es una nueva interpretación de esta magna obra, no puedo decir que sea la definitiva, pero está por demás documentada y sustentada. El genio del Renacimiento nos dejó un mensaje inclusivo y universal, y no exclusivo como era la iglesia Católica de ese tiempo...more

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Oct 30, 2011

Fred rated it

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Great book that gives a history of the Sistine Chapel from the Roman times to the time of Michaelangelo. A hilarious telling of the interesting relationship between Michaelangelo and the Pope. And that's just the first half. The second half concentrates on understanding the true meaning of the paintings. If you enjoy art history or just history in general this is worth a try. (There is also a story of attempted murder involving a pope, Easter and multiple daggers)

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May 30, 2011

Arlene rated it

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I found this book very interesting. I checked out this book from the library, since we were planning to go to Italy, and the Sistine Chapel was on our list.

The book covers much more than just the Sistine Chapel, though. It gives some history, and examples of other Renaissance art works, and techniques, with secondary messages.

I saw the Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci at the Uffizi in Florence, viewing from right to left, as suggested in the book, to observe Mary changi...more

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Jun 22, 2008

Rodney rated it

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Recommends it for: Art history majors.

Recommended to Rodney by: Saw it in a bookstore.

This is a great book for those who want to learn more about the Sistine Chapel. The history at the beginning is a bit slow, but the research is well done. It is very interesting. I can't say that I agree with all the conclusions of authors, but the authors made a good case for their work.

The most interesting aspect of this book is what I learned about Jewish mysticism. I would like to delve into that a bit more.

A disappointment about this book is that most of the illustra...more

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Feb 16, 2009

Christina added it · review of another edition

Through this book, I have been learning one of the many interpretations of Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The book is part biography of the life of the artist and part hidden messages in Michelangelo hidden within the painting. The main message is of religious tolerance, with ideas that all religions stem from one place and person in history; according to the authors' research, Michelangelo knew this, and therefore painted his hidden Judaic messages in a painting t...more

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Jun 09, 2009

Wayne rated it

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Having seen the Sistine Chapel in person, it was interesting to understand the meaning of the scenes. As the authors state, the art is so overwhelming as you stand on the floor and look up, it's impossible to pick up the subtle messages that Michelangelo left. I'd like to go back and re-visit the Chapel to see what I missed.

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Feb 22, 2011

Ron rated it

This is one of those books that I wish I had known about and read before I had the opportunity to visit the Sistine Chapel this past summer. Whether you have been to the Sistine Chapel or are planning a visit there in the future, be sure to track down this book and read it. You will never see the works of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel the same way again. Although this book is illustrated, the book begs to be issued in a deluxe version with more and better illustrations of what the author...more

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Jun 09, 2010

Kathy Petersen rated it

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Shelves: x-feb-10-thru-jan-11, read-non-fiction

I liked it - but I didn't quite buy all the arguments and analyses. Maybe Michelangelo was a homosexual, maybe he sympathized with the Jews and admired their teachings, maybe he was angry and annoyed with the Church and its hypocrisy (actually, no maybe about any of that). Perhaps he even secretly crossed over into Protestantism. But finding hidden declarations of all that reminds me of that 1960s farce Chariots of the Gods or the conspiracy theorists whose reasoning is impeccable if you accept ...more

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Sep 13, 2011

Erin rated it

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I enjoyed this book, but wish I would have read it before my trip to Italy. It was full of interesting information, but at times, was a little boring to read. I skipped a few pages, but if you have any interest in history and art, this is definitely a great book to read.

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Oct 29, 2010

EsMerol Kanekin Conejayevski GlaM marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Cuenta cómo Miguel Ángel dejó ocultos en su obra mensajes de fraternidad, de tolerancia y de libertad para animar a sus contemporáneos a cuestionar el poder represivo de la Iglesia de su tiempo.

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Aug 19, 2011

Les rated it

Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.
~ Michelangelo

This book will make you look upon Italy (especially Rome & Florence) as well as the church in a whole new light.
I knew nothing of many of the topics covered in this book.. a complete awakening!

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Aug 29, 2009

Katherine added it · review of another edition

I read this over the summer - what a treat! If you liked the DaVinci Code and are a history or art buff, you'll enjoy this. Absolutely fascinating!

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May 23, 2010

Krisette Spangler rated it

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Shelves: nonfiction

This book is quite a stretch. I agree that it is possible that Michelangelo and other great artists had hidden meanings in some of their paintings, but this author takes it too far. I only read about a third of this book, because I just felt the author was taking great liberties, and his theories were not plausible.

I love Michelangelo's work and viewing the Sistine Chapel was the experience of a lifetime. I prefer to make my own interpretations for the motives behind such a deeply...more

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