Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

The autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini begins with a famous quote:

"All men of whatsoever quality they be, who have done anything of excellence, or which may properly resemble excellence, ought, if they are persons of truth and honesty, to describe their life with their own hands."

With typical bravado, Benvenuto quickly establishes his view of himself: Resembling excellence, having done many things of excellence. Cellini's book is filled with quotes of praise for him, his work, his wisdom, his general greatness, etc.

The beauty of his autobiography, however, is not in the details of his life, but on the perspective it provides of life in the upper echelon of Italian Renaissance life. The setting includes the courts of Rome, Florence, Ferrara, Venice, Paris and more throughout the first half of the 16th century.

Although a noted artist of his time, Cellini's name does not top the list of famous Renaissance masters. He did, however, keep some amazing company throughout the course of his life, including popes (Clement VII and Paul III), King Francis I of France, as well as various Medici's, Dukes and Cardinals, plus the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo and countless other artists of the time. His proximity to greatness is the appeal of the story.

The artist Cellini is most renowned as a goldsmith, but also did substantial works in bronze, marble and other materials. He led the papal mint under Clement VII.

The book gets most of its flavor, however, from Cellini the rabble-rouser. He gets into literally dozens of fights throughout the course of his life, is jailed on multiple of occasions (once in Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo for several months), kills several men (with the pope arranging for his escape from the law on one occasion), is poisoned twice, and generally leaves much trouble in his wake. Perhaps some of this is typical of life in the Italian Renaissance, but not everyone could have been such a firebomb.

Regardless, the book provides a window seat into one of the most interesting eras in history. I loved the book, but I'm not so sure I would have loved spending time with the man!