Customer Reviews

History of Italian Renaissance Art (5th Edition)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't give 5-star ratings very often. I reserve them for only the best, and this is indeed the best book on the Italian Renaissance. I received both my BA and MA in Art History and this was the text used for my Renaissance classes. The book does not read as a textbook for those looking for leisure reading. It reads like a novel and is written in easy to understand language. Chapters are broken down by time period. There are a TON of pictures! I would say 50% of the book is pictures and 95% of those are in color. There are a few B&W pictures but they are of rather obscure sculptures or paintings.

The book was originally written by Frederick Harrt who was one of the 'Monument Men' in World War II who went around Italy documenting art, missing, damaged, or otherwise. He has passed away, but David Wilkins has kept up on the new editions with the current scholarship being done in Renaissance Art. Whether you get this as a textbook for a class, or leisure reading, a coffee table book perhaps, or even a Christmas book for a hard-to-buy-for relative, it is well worth the money.

This a beautiful book. It is complete and definitive for reference to Italian Renaissance Art. The photographs are clear and the information is concise. I used this for my graduate Italian art history class. I am keeping this book and will not be selling it back!

Fredrick Hartt is a man whose love of his subject is only equal to his willingness to expalin it in terms of the layman. He does not limit the purview of the book to merely the depiction of Italian life and piety, but brings in narrative and anecdotes to enliven the tome. He introduces us to the vocabulary of the arts, not consigning them to an inconvenient niche in the appendix, neither condescending incessantly or immersed in jagon. The resplendent illustrations, true eye candy, fill the book, making it a true bargain. Hartt truly deserves the copious awards given to him by the patrons of the arts. My only regret is that the usuerers of my school book store had not charged such a bloated price ($72) for this book.

Illustrating accurately visual art in its presentation and analysis makes sense. Less than 14 % of all illustrations being in color seems somehow disappointing. Otherwise, the book is exquisite including its beautiful printing and bounding. All the illustrations occupy approx. a half of the 696 pages, but the text is what counts. Maps of the centers of Rome, Florence and Venice on the inside of the front cover and on the flyleaf show many important landmarks, but architecture appears to be a bit underrepresented.
CONTENTS
Prefaces and Forewords 6
A PORTFOLIO OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE 9
PART ONE: THE LATE MIDDLE AGES
1. Italy and Italian Art 27
2. Duecento Art in Tuscany and Rome 43
3. Florentine Art of the Early Trecento 76
4. Sienese Art of the Early Trecento 104
5. Later Gothic Art in Tuscany and Northern Italy 133
PART TWO: THE QUATTROCENTO
6. The Beginnings of Renaissance Architecture 152
7. Gothic and Renaissance in Tuscan Sculpture 167
8. Gothic and Renaissance in Florentine Painting 187
9. The Heritage of Masaccio and the Second Renaissance Style 213
10. The Second Renaissance Style in Architecture and Sculpture 229
11. Absolute and Perfect Painting: The Second Renaissance Style 252
12. Crisis and Crosscurrents 290
13. Science, Poetry, and Prose 317
14. The Renaissance in Central Italy 350
15. Gothic and Renaissance in Venice and Northern Italy 378
PART THREE: THE CINQUECENTO
16. The High Renaissance in Florence 430
17. The High Renaissance in Rome 479
18. High Renaissance and Mannerism 535
19. High and Late Renaissance in Venice and on the Mainland 582
20. Michelangelo and the Maniera 631
Glossary 662
Bibliography 669
Index 678
Credits 696

I used this book for an art history course and now much later am rereading sections of it to decide what art works I will see on a trip to Florence and Venice. It covers the origins and periods of the Italian Renaissance up to 1600. The descriptions of art works are lengthy and detailed-needed for a class-and useful for learning another way to look at art when you are not an artist. The course and the book made me see this period of art as more than just a time of Madonna pictures. Works by the great artists of the time are covered as well as lesser known but interesting artists, architects, sculptors and leading figures of that period. It is a great reference book for artist and art lover alike. The guide books mention many of the artists, churches and other buildings covered in this book, but the book has details that can help a traveler decide what to see if time does not allow seeing everything. Remember that it is about Italy only and not other countries that later experienced the Renaissance.

A well written easily readable text with enough depth to satisfy all but graduate students in the field. References and bibliography are extensive. It stands out among several competitive books.

This text is the standard by which all other modern commentaries on Italian Renaissance art should be judged. Treat yourself and get the hardback edition. Many thanks to David Wilkins for advancing the work begun by Frederick Hartt.

This is a must buy for any one seriously interested in the art of the Italian Renaissance. Copious illustrations of the most significant works of the period along with scholarly analysis of the works. It encompasses painting, sculpture and architecture. The color illustrations are worth the price which is quite high. It is a book that you are likely to refer to over and over for a long period of time.
It think it could be improved with some attention to the political and religious environment of the period as well as some discussion of the relationship to the other arts and philosophy.

This book was highly recommended to me by one of my Art History professors. This book is perfect for both novice Art Historians and those experienced in the field. I'm not an expert in the Italian Renaissance, but have done some studies in it. This book gave me enough infomation to be more knowledgeable without bogging my brain down with too many intricate details about the work and the artist.

This book is great, was received brand new like i asked, and timing was spot on. well. not quite, but just 1 day later than i anticipated, which is pretty damn good. given the fact that amazon cannot read minds of brilliant men. like me. if anyone's buying this because it is a required text for school than...well good luck. if anyone's buying this for pleasure it's excellent. and detailed. and high five me when you see me walking down the street for writing an awesome review :D thanks ebay!