Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
This beautifully written study combines science with art, literature, history and psychology to explore the place of the mirror in the culture of medieval and Renaissance Europe. A brief history of the mirror through Antiquity is followed by a detailed examination of the technology of glass mirror production in 16th- and 17th-century Venice. The book finally considers the symbolism of mirrors and reflections through an analysis of self-portraiture, vanity, imitation, demonology, trickery and the psychological quest of man to know thyself'.
Synopsis
This engaging and witty cultural history traces the evolution of the mirror from antiquity to the present day, illustrating its journey from wondrous object to ordinary trinket. With its earliest invention, the mirror allowed us to gaze upon ourselves, bestowing a power both fascinating and terrifying.