All Things Move
Learning to Look in the Sistine Chapel
Jeannie Marshall’s book All Things Move addresses the splendor of the iconic Sistine Chapel from personal and universal perspectives, delivering an intriguing, crafted interplay of historical, religious, and aesthetic observations.
Marshall, a Canadian who lives in Rome, is a frequent visitor to the Sistine Chapel. She recalls crowds of tourists swarming Vatican City before COVID-19 and the unnerving emptiness during the pandemic. But she also reaches back to detail the artistry of Michelangelo’s glorious ceiling, which he completed in 1512.
After a period of plague and turmoil, the artist began work on The Last Judgment in 1536. The lush Renaissance beauty of Michelangelo’s frescoes is contrasted with Martin Luther’s contemporaneous outrage toward the excesses of the Catholic Church. Emboldened by Luther’s Reformation, a crusading army ravaged Rome in 1527; despite intense violence and destruction, the Sistine Chapel survived the onslaught.
Throughout the book, Marshall also reflects upon her unsettled childhood and distinct sense of spirituality. While her repeated visits to the Sistine Chapel are only a subway ride away, each encounter resulted in deeper perspective and fascinating glimpses of ancient and contemporary Rome.
Enhanced by its photographs, All Things Move is an all-encompassing, intimate tour of the Sistine Chapel’s extraordinary wonders.
Reviewed by
Meg Nola
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
