This work is the only known autobiography of a Renaissance artist. Itescribes not only the artist's life at the Papal Court in Rome and at theoyal Court of France but makes very vivid historical writing, including, ast does, an eye-witness acount of the Sack of Rome in 1527.;Cellini alsoives us details of his career as a sculptor and goldsmith who restoredtruscan sculptures in Florence, made jewellery for the Popes and beautifulrinkets and ornaments for the French Court, such as the salt-cellar forrancis I.;Many of his contemporaries such as Michelangelo are described byim in an intimate manner. The illustrations, which include all Cellini'sorks that have been preserved, as well as scenes from Renaissance life, werehosen by Sir John Pope-Hennessy, who died in 1994.