Michaelangelo is one of the most brilliant artists who ever lived: a sculptor, painter and architect to the Medici, Popes and Cardinals of Renaissance Italy. He was known to have a sulphorous temper but until Hatfield's research, no one realised he was thoroughly dishonest and hated spending money to the point where he slept in his boots despite his great wealth. The Romantic image of Michaelangelo toiling away on back-breaking work for the Sistine Chapel is entirely reassessed in this book. Professor Hatfield's book is based on his remarkable research which lead to his discoveries demythecising the artist. With many evocative anecdotes, he exposes Michaelangelo's dishonesty towards the papacy and his astonishing cheapness towards his closest relatives. Michaelangelo's assets in today's terms would have been worth 30 million pounds. Yet, his only out-goings were for marble and wine. When on the road with his assistants he would take only one bed for his entire party. For the first time for over 500 years can we really begin to understand the strange mind of one of the most important artists in modern history in a way that even his contemporaries were never in a position to do.