Customer Reviews

The Genius in the Design: Bernini, Borromini, and the Rivalry That Transformed Rome

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

 

 

Having read alot of books on art and architecture history..specifically holding a degree in art history and being an architect myself...I can say with some certainty that this book doesn't quite cut it for me.

Essentially this book is a simple biography of both Borromini and Bernini. The Borromini vs. Bernini saga is a great one, and although the author does an adequate job of covering all the basics, I felt the story telling was lacking, dull, and frankly boring. I got the impression the author spent alot more effort creating the Bernini passages than the Borromini ones.

Futhermore the book doesn't even touch on Baroque architecture, what is it? What defines the style? Why did Bernini and Borromini design buildings to look like they did? Perhaps the author assumes all readers are born with an inate knowledge of the evolution of architecture from the high renaissance into the Baroque. Without a basic understanding of Baroque architecture its tough for a novice to appreciate why Bernini/Borromini buildings were/are so special.

Yet I managed to read the text in a few days. With all that said, it just doesn't compare to the better writing of an author like Ross King. (who writes books of a comparable nature).

I'm always torn with these sorts of books because they speak, in great detail, about works of art and architecture yet lack pictures. This book does include some photographs, but these types of books need more than a photograph or two.

The real problem here though is the author's choice of words doesn't do justice to the subject matter.

Its an average book, at a average price, bottom line, a great story told in an average way.

2 1/2 stars really but I'll give it 3 for trying.

If you want to read a good biography of Borromini read Anthony Blunt's version. And by all means check out the architecture when in Roma.

If you love art and architecture, and even if you don't, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. Jake Morrissey introduces Bernini and Boromini as if they all shared a past life together. The story he tells is so rich in detail and so fascinating in bringing the genius of these two artists to life, that I felt as though I knew them just as well. This book pulled me into the world of 16th century Italy on page one and left me wanting to book a flight to Rome to see where this riveting story unfolded. I am rarely enchanted by books of art history, but this book bears that genius. Buy this book and treat yourself to wonderful experience. Then buy Mr. Morrissey's mystery novel "A Weekend in Blenheim" and treat yourself again.

This book sounded fascinating: Rome, architechture, golden age, personalities, drama; what else could a reader want? As it turns out, plenty.
I don't know architecture, so found some of the book a slow go. The author painstakingly describes churches, fountains, etc., in detail - but a few photos would have saved (or enlightened) a few thousand words.
This was a rather dry bio of these two folks, with disappointingly little about how they and their crafts fared in the context of life in the day. For example, I found the fluidity between their "careers" in sculpture, painting, and architecture to be remarkable. Almost as though architecture had not yet evolved into a credible career. I was surprised at the extent to which the Popes were intimiately involved in architecture - not just of St. Peters, but throughout the city.

There is but passing reference to how Rome had to eye the impressive power of France and Spain warily; this must have colored some aspects of life in the day - including how these two gentlement found there way. Even so, Bernini's trip to France late in life is a dry narrative.

Dava Sobel's LONGITUDE is a much better example of treatment of historical concepts that includes description of everyday events and brings the era to life. This wasn't such a long book, so no harm no foul. But now I have to Google all these places to see what Mr. Morrisseey was talking about.

Here's a look at a splendid historic period in a splendid city revealed to us through the lives of two artistic geniuses, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini. Jake Morrissey gives us a smooth ride through the rough roads of 18th Century Rome, a world dominated and manipulated by various popes and cardinals but given lasting meaning, in the end, by the artists of the period, primarily Bernini and Borromini. Morrissey knows how to spin the story without getting bogged down in architectural minutiae while giving plenty details to set the mood and the understanding of the story. I have never been able to decide which of the two I most prefer, one visit to Rome it's Bernini and on another it's Borromini and Morrissey's book didn't help me change that but certainly helped me to admire them both more than I already did. It is a book that would immeasurably enhance anyone's visit to Rome bringing another dimension to the appreciation of the extraordinary buildings left as a legacy by these two men.

This book is excellent. It will make you see the beauty of Rome from a more personal direction. The competition between these two figures was of great benefit to Rome.

The tantrums, the egos, the "in your face, Pope" attitude and the rest of the drama that surrounds the building of Rome. Interesting read for those who are interested in history, drama and intrigue.

One of those "one can't put the book down" nonfiction reads.

Book arrived exactly as it was decribed. I thought it would have come earlier, but that was my error in the reading of the delivery date. It arrived in time though so all is good.
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