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The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

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The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

By: Benvenuto Cellini
Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
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About this listen

 Master Italian sculptor, goldsmith, and writer Benvenuto Cellini is best remembered for his magnificent autobiography. In this work, which was actually begun in 1558 but not published until 1730, Cellini beautifully chronicles his flamboyant times. He tells of his adventures in Italy and France, and his relations with popes, kings, and fellow artists. From Florence and Pisa to Siena and Rome, Cellini portrays a tumultuous period - the age of Galileo, Michelangelo and the de Medicis - with an artist's eye for detail and a curmudgeon's propensity for criticism.

Cellini, according to himself, lived a very full life, and his account of his exploits, though grandiloquent and somewhat suspect, is always entertaining. Historians have considered this work to be a prime example of the emergence of modern individualism during the Renaissance.

Translated by John Addington Symonds.

(P)1996 Blackstone Audio Inc. 16th Century Art Art & Literature Artists, Architects & Photographers Entertainment & Celebrities Europe Historical Italy Modern Biography Renaissance Celebrity Middle ages Rome

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Critic reviews

"The minute details recounted by Cellini are gracefully read by Whitfield, who breathes life into this fascinating autobiography." ( AudioFile)
"[ The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini] chronicles with unflagging energy and force one of the most tempestuous lives and one of the largest egos in all of history....The vigorous translation is superbly realized by British narrator Robert Whitfield, successfully bringing to [the recording] Cellini's unforgettable story. Highly recommended for all collections." ( Library Journal)
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This book provides a facinating insight into life during the early 16th century. Benvenuto Cellini was a brilliant artist as well as a story teller. A real page turner...

Best Book I ever read (listened)

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Benvenuto Cellini's life reads like a movie script, and if asked to name a director worthy of its production it would be Tarantino. The man is bigger than life or so he would have us believe, he moves with and around the most powerful and influential men and women of his time. He in turn annoys and exasperates Kings, Popes, Dukes and his greatest artistic contemporaries while at the same time holding them entranced with his whiles and wit. He is the renascence party animal par excellence a man to love and hate. But never dull or without charm. To know his times you must read this man life, and then work out if you can if it's work of fantastic self aggrandisement or so honest an work as to beggar belief.

A braggart and a bully but also a true genius

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Good to hear a first hand account of life in the 1500’s and the life and loves of a talented artist and his clients and friends

Great story

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Chellini comes over as a very talented person but not one you would want to have known. A thoroughly dislike level person with a propensity to violence. Eg when requested by a landlord to pay in advance for staying overnight, Cellini at first thought a suitable punishment would be to kill him or burn his house down. Another time reprimanding a boy who hadn’t paid attention to his work and made a mistake kicked him in the groin as punishment. Also beating a female model black and blue. Oh and for good measure paedophilia with a 13/14 y.o. girl.
He portrayed himself as a fighting hero and sagely wise.
I didn’t listen closely to it, I kept thinking it would get better but it never did.
I’m glad it’s over. I am not a ‘woke’ person, I still very much admire his works, just not him!

Not a likeable character

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