Customer Reviews

The Art of Florence

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This magnificent two volume book is a rare combination of outstanding substantive scholarship and state of the art photography. If you are looking for a light-weight book--physically or intellectually--this is not the book for you. Rather, the book provides a comprehensive history of Florence, both art history and political history, by noted scholars. The illustrations are lavish and compare extremely favorably with other art books in our library that illustrate the art treasures of Florence. Given the length of the book and the quality of the illustrations, the price is reasonable. The book can be enjoyed by the armchair traveler as well as by the tourist.

Clearly this publication was a newsworthy event when it was first issued, garnering praise from the New York Times Book Review andthe Washington Post alike. Now these magnificent slipcased volumes are making news once again.Nothing else has changed about this popular monument of scholarly and publishing history and winner of the prestigious Prix Vasari in France. Matching an elegant and sophisticated text by three leading art historians with more than 700 glorious color photographs and another 854 duotones and architectural drawings, The Art of Florence immerses us in the creative life of the city that gave birth to the Renaissance.

This important and uncommonly beautiful publication gracefully links the city's architecture, sculpture, and painting to its rich social fabric and dramatic political life. The Art of Florence is truly a masterpiece...

This is one of those books I wish I could give six or even seven starts. This is not only a book about great art; it is itself a beautiful work of art. The care lavished in making this book shows from the beautifully decorated slipcase to the wonderfully textured covers (my kids say they feel furry), to its large format and glorious reproductions. There are many foldouts showing large-scale works in broad sweep and even full-page reproductions of details of works shown in the book.

While the artwork shown is dazzling to the eye and overwhelming to the mind, the articles illuminating the works are first rate as well. One really nice feature of the articles is that there are marginal listings of the plates and figures discussed in each paragraph so it is easy to find text related to the images in which you are interested.

There are two volumes and over 1,300 pages. Volume 1 begins with a brief essay on Florence's prelude to greatness (59 B.C. 0 A.D. 1200). Then the book is organized into sections of varying size: Civic Price and Prosperity (1200 - 1340), An Age of Crisis (1340-1400), Images of a Free Republic (The Early 15th Century), and The Era of Cosimo De' Medici (1430-69). Volume two has: Lorenzo Il Magnifico (1469-92), The End of the Republic (1492-1530, and ends with The Medicean Principate (1530 - c. 1600). Each of these larger sections is organized in the same way - Architecture, then sculpture, and then painting. It is quite fascinating to watch how tastes and techniques evolve over the centuries.

There is also a glossary, bibliography, a section on the photographer and authors, an index and photo credits.

This isn't a book you will likely read from beginning to end. It is almost an ocean you will want to spend time exploring for years in order to take in all that it has to offer. It is almost impossible to not take away something new every time you open its magnificent pages. This is a real treasure for your library. I know is one in mine.

Talk about magnificently beautiful! THE ART OF FLORENCE does full justice to its subject -- and it's a lot cheaper than plane fare to Italy.

The last time I was in Italy I witnessed three muggings, one in the Church of Santa Maria Novella, and those experiences were so unnerving that I couldn't fully concentrate on the loveliness of the many treasures before me. I barely remember any of them. So what a delight to discover so many of them in stunning full-color plates, to be enjoyed again and again in the comfort and safety of my own home.

The dual volume book is divided into historical sections of about a generation each in length. Each begins with a lucid account of the history of the city during that period with emphasis on the political, social and economic events that influenced the patronage of art at that time. There are separate accounts of the architecture, sculpute and painting done in each period. A rich and exciting interplay unfolds between the arts, the politics and the social structure of each time period. No wonder Florence was the artistic and political leader for all of Europe during the 13th through 16th centuries.

The authors confine themselves to Florentine artists or those who lived for some time in Florence. References to other artists, when necessary, are minimal. Michaelangelo, for instance, is discussed only in terms of the Dona Madonna, since it is the only painting of his in the city. His limning of the Sistine Chapel in Rome is mentioned only in passing.

These two volumes are special -- so special they'll draw you to the reading chair even when the siren of Spring calls through your window.

An amazing book! Elegant, informative, photos and history that just won't quit. The only downside is that this book (there are 2 volumes actually) is so large it is hard to manage. I got a copy for my 10 year old granddaughter for a trip we are taking this Summer. She has been dazzled and is working her way through (finding the photos that attract and then diving into the chapter text). It has also become an addiction for me. If you are going to Florence, get this book and read it!!

This is a stunning two volume set. The amount of detail in both the written word and stunning photographs brings Florentine art to life. The text covers not only the technical aspects of the art and architecture but also the socio-political environment in which the art was created. These discourses can be a little dry but they are enlightening. The photography will certainly recapture ones interest when the text gets a little dull.

As far as I know, this is the most complete sum ever published on the Tuscan art capital. Certainly not a mere coffee-table book, it is full of wonderful illustrations (the beautiful color plates are repeated in small black and white images next to the text) enriched by an encyclopedic and enlightening text. Unfortunately, on account of its weight, it is not the type of book you can easily bring along on a trip to Italy...

Absolutely gorgeous in every way. This book brought me back to florence, and with it a flood of memories. What else can i say that hasnt already been said in the reviews above. Hold on to this volume its priceless.

I read the set when flat on my back with an illness. I was somewhat familiar with a few of the signature works, but knew nothing of the history of the period, or of the details of the artist's lives. I can honestly say I enjoyed every page. The text was informative, but did not make you feel that you had to skim over a lot of of academic and technical information of interest only to scholars. On the other hand it was far from a "survey" or "highlights" book. I feel the best aspect was the broad historical scope. It takes in several hundred years. One excellent feature was the amount of space given to architecture. You learn of the processes of problem solving that went into the construction of the iconic church dome. Another helpful feature of this book is that the pictures and the text are close, so you don't need to flip back and forth. For anyone who is not an art historian, or a specialist in Renaissance history, these books will provide hours of delight, new insights on every page, and a thirst to learn more. For me the best feature of the book was the scope of the historical progression. The lives of the artists were influenced by external events, such as wars, and created their masterpieces under a variety of circumstances. They also had a profound influence on one another. The books are not something to dip into here and there, but are like a long Russian novel, rewarding in the scope as well as the details.

The 1989 edition still holds up for the most part with the exception of some pre-1999 restoration images such as many of the Botticellis, including the Cestallo Annunciation and Pontormo's frescos from the Capponi Chapel. The architecture and sculpture images are amazing, especially the two page spread of the New Sacristry of San Lorenzo.