This text is an often whimsical, yet deeply erudite, treatment of Michelangelo"s nose as the centre of his autobiography, self-creation and iconography. Barolsky"s constant movement to very diverse themes, which are all connected, still, with his central concern, Michelangelo"s self-image and his art is very illuminating. Barolsky"s discussions of Hegel and Pater on art as self-expression, Montaigne"s visit to Italy and his view of Socrates, Michelangelo"s gift giving, and the relation of Michelangelo and Machiavelli to Pope Julius II, all take the reader back to the Renaissance notion of the creation of an artistic persona and Barolsky"s account of why that culture placed great value on this achievement.