It also served to correct inaccuracies Michelangelo found in the fawning biography of him in Giorgio Vasari's Vite de' più eccellenti pittori, scultori, ed architettori ("Lives of the most excellent painters, sculptors and architects"), which was later revised considerably by Vasari in the wake of Condivi's biography. Condivi's Vita denies that Michelangelo was indebted to any other artist and claims that he was self-taught (he was in fact a pupil of Domenico Ghirlandaio). Also, much is made of his supposed descent from the Counts of Canossa, although this belief of Michelangelo's was utterly unfounded.
It also aimed to rectify Michelangelo's discoveries of errors in Giorgio Vasari's fawning biography of him, which was later extensively revised by Vasari following Condivi's account. Condivi's Vita denied that Michelangelo owed anything to other artists and claimed he was self-taught (he was actually a student of Domenico Ghirlandaio). Additionally, much emphasis was placed on his supposed descent from the Counts of Canossa, despite this belief being entirely unfounded.