I. Florentine origins : The Buonarroti family ; From schoolroom to workshop ; Michelangelo, Lorenzo and Bertoldo ; In the service of Piero ; Bologna and after

II. The first Roman encounter : In urbe ; The Pietà ; Michelangelo painter

III. Return to Florence : The marble David ; A second David ; Statues for Siena ; The hall of the Great Council

IV. The artist and Pope Julius : In the service of the Pope ; The return to Carrara ; The second flight ; A fearful artist ; Florentine renewals ; Return to Bologna

V. The Sistine Chapel ceiling : The first steps ; Preparing for the project ; Assistants ; At work in the Chapel ; An absent patron ; The last twelve months

VI. After Pope Julius : The dead Pope's tomb ; The Minerva Christ ; A Roman house ; Friends in Rome ; The family provider

VII. Pope Leo and Florence : Marble supplies ; A third contract ; The façade of San Lorenzo: the commission ; The blockade at Carrara ; A space for working ; Setbacks and suspension

VIII. Undertakings in Rome and Florence : The second Christ ; Two deaths ; Family discord ; Working for Cardinal Giulio ; The Medici Chapel ; The Della Rovere restored ; The San Lorenzo Library and other projects ; Two Giganti

IX. A vulnerable artist : Months of obscurity ; Serving the republic ; Michelangelo and Alfonso d'Este ; The flight to Venice ; The Leda

X. Florentine epilogue : The return of the Medici ; Old and new assignments ; The death of Lodovico ; A further contract ; Tommaso de'Cavalieri ; A marble Apollo.