Art & Life in Renaissance Venice (Abrams Perspectives) [Paperback]

Patricia Fortini Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

What was Venice like during the Renaissance, at the height of its power? Who lived in this most cosmopolitan of cities? How did its art differ from that of mainland Italy, and why?

Interweaving art-historical analysis of Renaissance painting, sculpture, architecture, and decorative arts with detailed contextual discussions, Patricia Fortini Brown brings Venice alive. She explores the role of the guilds and the nobility, the influence of the church, the political rivalries with other states, the taste for symbols and metaphors -- the myriad qualities that made Venice distinct and its art unique.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brown challenges the Tuscan-centred understanding and definition of the term 'Renaissance' in her splendid survey." -- The Art Book, January 1998

"sweeps across the social and political worlds of 15th- and 16th-century Venice, embedding works of art in a rich matrix." -- Choice, October 1997 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Through close examination of Renaissance paintings, drawings, book illustrations, and other art works, Patricia Fortini Brown brings fourteenth—fifteenth century Venice alive. She explores the role of the guilds and the nobility, the unique island setting, the environment of the church and the private home, the political rivalries with other states, the taste for symbols and metaphorsQthe myriad qualities that made Venice distinct and its art unique. Carefully interweaving art-historical analysis of individual works (both famous and little-known) with rich contextual discussions, she reveals a culture of high beauty, artifice, and craftsmanship. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: NY: Abrams (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810927470
• ISBN-13: 978-0810927476
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,189,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well-written, readable work on High Venetian art, September 23, 2001

By 

"arsenalmaniac" (Berkeley, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art & Life in Renaissance Venice (Abrams Perspectives) (Paperback)

This book is a great introdcution to Venetian art of the Renaissance, through its views of the major artists of the time (the Bellinis, Titian, Pollaiuolo, Veronese, etc.), but it incorporates enough social, religious, and political history that one not only gets a more-well rounded view of the Venice of the Renaissance, but also is not bogged down in excessive stylistic analysis. This makes Brown's work a wonderful introduction to the Venetian novice, which many amateur art-historians caught up with Florence and Rome (myself included) tend to be.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic !, April 10, 2004

By 

Wulfgirl (Sacramento, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art & Life in Renaissance Venice (Trade Version) (Paperback)

This little paperback is packed with great information and great pictures. A must have for anyone interested in Renaissance Venice, it's well-organized and very easy to read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great intro to renaissance Venice, February 6, 2011

By 

M. Busch "MAB" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Art and Life in Renaissance Venice (Reissue) (Paperback)

I read this book just prior to visiting the Boston Museum of Fine Arts about 2 years ago to see their special exhibit on three very important artists in Renaissance Venice: Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. The book was a great help in understanding the period and helped me to appreciate the exhibit and what the artists were trying to show. I wish I had read the book before visiting Venice itself. But, having read the book again after viewing the exhibit at the MFA, I know what I must see the next time I visit Venice, a truly unique and amazing place.