Customer Reviews

The Chapel of the Magi: The Frescoes of Benozzo Gozzoli

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an exceptionally rare concept for an art book, with a single volume devoted to one single painting (or more correctly a painting comprising several panels). There is little text intruding in the way of the artwork, and the full page images are awesome close-ups. The book is packed with full colour quality reproductions. You can clearly see, brushstroke by stroke, how all the fine detail of this masterpiece was executed. I own a large collection of (so far) over 400 books on art and this would rank as one of my favourites

Excellent detailed photos of Benozzo's masterpiece allow you to see what you could not possibly absorb during a visit to the chapel itself.

I ordered the hardcover and was expecting high quality but was very disappointed in the colour reproductions. They all were under saturated and had a dull matt finish. In contrast the publishers put more money into the books cover which was vibrant. I also felt that the graphic design and framing of the details of which are most of the book was poor. Whoever framed the details was more interested in details of fabric than in overall composition. I found it quite aggravating visually as you always were looking on the edge for more. Unfortunately the broader views cover too much so everything is quite small. On the other hand this is the only hardcover book that I know of that is a monograph on th e chapel. I can't speak for the paperback not having seen it. The text is adequate.