Fra Filippo Lippi [Abridged] [Hardcover]

Jeffrey Ruda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 1999

Fra Filippo Lippi (c.1406-69) was Boticelli's teacher and the court painter to the Medici in the 1450s and 1460s. Of the early Italian Renaissance artists, Masaccio's use of perspective and lighting and Alberti's theories of pictorial construction, are presented by modern art historians as paradigms of the naturalistic and "progressive" styles. Filippo is considered to be retrograde or eccentric to the extent that he diverges from their approach to spatial structure. Yet perspective was not the only important feature of early Rennaissance naturalism. Fra Filippo's has suffered particularly from this distorting approach. Filippo's spatial structures are defined largely through colour relationships, and he was a master of subjectivity. His greatness as an artist lies in the narrative brilliance of his characterizations and the plausible humanity that he brought into religious painting. Those qualities which are discernible in Filippo's "Madonna and Child with Two Angels" which can be seen in the Uffizi are important to the development of 15th century painting. The book consists of an introduction surveying Filippo's life and career, and of a catalogue of his own and his studio's works. There are two fresco cycles, in the Cathedrals of Prato and Spoleto, and about fifty works on panel involving Filippo or his studio. In addition, the book includes much unpublished documentation found in the last eighty years.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Fra Filippo Lippi (1406-1469), an Italian Renaissance artist, was a pioneer of psychological realism. An abridged edition of the 1993 full-scale study of Lippi, this volume presents the full catalogue abbreviated to a reference checklist. The narrative remains largely unchanged. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press; abridged edition edition (September 16, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714823627
• ISBN-13: 978-0714823621
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 10.4 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,509,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete study!!, June 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Fra Filippo Lippi (Hardcover)

This book is THE definitive guide for anyone interested in Lippi. It not only is of stunning quality in terms of all the pictures photographs, but it is incredibly detailed with an incredible amount of information. A must read for any renaissance artist lover.

5 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a true master, September 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fra Filippo Lippi (Paperback)

A must for anyone that enjoys religious/mystical art.

Filippo Lippi's work has a great deal of depth and his use of colour is magical. He was a true master and visionary.