Synopses & Reviews
Artists like Botticelli, Holbein, Leonardo, Durer, and Michelangelo and works such as the Last Supper fresco and the monumental marble statue of David, are familiar symbols of the Renaissance. But who were these artists, why did they produce such memorable images, and how would their original beholders have viewed these objects? Was the Renaissance only about great masters and masterpieces, or were women artists and patrons also involved? And what about the minor pieces that Renaissance men and women would have encountered in homes, churches and civic spaces? This Very Short Introduction answers such questions by considering both famous and lesser-known artists, patrons, and works of art within the cultural and historical context of Renaissance Europe. The volume provides a broad cultural and historical context for some of the Renaissance's most famous artists and works of art. It also explores forgotten aspects of Renaissance art, such as objects made for the home and women as artists and patrons. Considering Renaissance art produced in both Northern and Southern Europe, rather than focusing on just one region, the book introduces readers to a variety of approaches to the study of Renaissance art, from social history to formal analysis.
Synopsis
Botticelli, Holbein, da Vinci, Dürer, Michelangelo: these Renaissance masters are still revered today. But who were these artists, why did they produce such memorable works, and how were they viewed in their own time? Using vivid and engaging examples, Geraldine A. Johnson focuses on both canonical and lesser-known artists from the Northern and Southern Renaissance. Additionally, she provides a fascinating overview of the period and its culture, while highlighting the variety of approaches that can help us understand these magnificent artistic creations.
About the Author
Geraldine A. Johnson is a lecturer in Art History at the University of Oxford. She has edited books on the subjects of Renaissance art, sculpture, and photography, including Picturing Women in Renaissance and Baroque Italy, and Sculpture and Photography: Envisioning the Third Dimension.