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The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects
A painter and architect in his own right, Giorgio Vasari (1511-74) achieved immortality for this book on the lives of his fellow Renaissance artists, first published in Florence in 1550. Although he based his work on a long tradition of biographical writing, Vasari infused these literary portraits with a decidedly modern form of critical judgment. The result is a work that remains to this day the cornerstone of art historical scholarship.
Spanning the period from the thirteenth century to Vasari's own time, the Lives opens a window on the greatest personalities of the period, including Giotto, Brunelleschi, Mantegna, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Titian. This Modern Library edition, abridged from the original text with notes drawn from earlier commentaries, as well as current research, reminds us why The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects is indispensable to any student interested in Renaissance art. "From the Trade Paperback edition."
Spanning the period from the thirteenth century to Vasari's own time, the Lives opens a window on the greatest personalities of the period, including Giotto, Brunelleschi, Mantegna, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Titian. This Modern Library edition, abridged from the original text with notes drawn from earlier commentaries, as well as current research, reminds us why The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects is indispensable to any student interested in Renaissance art. "From the Trade Paperback edition."
ebook
First published January 1, 1568
About the author
Giorgio Vasari
805 books121 followersGiorgio Vasari was an Italian painter and architect, known for his famous biographies of Italian artists.
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November 1, 2017
This 2005 Dover edition is an abridged version of a 1967 two volume edition of Giorgio Vasari’s Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, often called today Lives of the Artists, or just “Vasari’s Lives”. The translation used is that of Mrs. Jonathan Foster (1851). The artists included are Giotto, Masaccio, Fra Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Titian. These eight artists are covered in less than 250 pages. Of the eight lives, that of Michelangelo takes up over 100 pages.
In the review, I'll use the book’s shortest chapter, on Sandro Botticelli, for examples.
Strengths
The book is extremely interesting, in parts. When the work was first published in Florence in 1550, Michelangelo and Titian were still living, and Botticelli, Leonardo, and Raphael had all died only 30-40 years previously. (The earliest of these artists, Giotto, had died in 1337, over two centuries prior to Vasari's work.) To read the views of these artists' lives and works written by someone this close in time to them, someone who was himself immersed in the culture of the Italian Renaissance, can be intoxicating.
There’s no doubt of the historic importance of the book. It was the first history of art ever written, and though it only treated Italian art (and even there tended to favor somewhat chauvinistically Florentine artists), the Introduction to the book makes many favorable points about it. The minute descriptions of hundreds of works of art, though elementary, “laid the groundwork” for many of the elements of art history – “the development of compositional structure and the manipulation of color, the analysis of the meaning of changes in style and subject matter” - which were to be taken up by later historians.
And the prominence of Lives in the title, instead of something like “works”, or “paintings”, points to one of its strengths: not only do we read short biographies of the artists as introductions to each essay, but more biographical data appears repeatedly throughout. This is still a feature of modern popular articles or books on artists. (As distinct from thick academic books on art history, which focus more on the art than the artist, if I can put it that way.)
For example, in the 8 page chapter on Botticelli, we read that Botticelli had been paid a large sum for the paintings he executed in the recently built Sistine Chapel in the early 1480s. Vasari continues
Weaknesses
Here’s one of the paintings, actually a large fresco, that Botticelli did in the Sistine Chapel.
The Temptations of Christ (1480-82)
345×555 cm (136×219 in)
Vasari refers to this work as “The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness’. Since the fresco obviously shows (on the left, center and right of the upper part) the three Biblical temptations, one might wonder whether Vasari ever saw the fresco, or had forgot what he’d seen when he wrote.
This example illustrates that, in trying to look up a painting described or named by Vasari, it can be confusing to figure out what he’s referring to - unless you’re reading an edition in which the translator has done this work for the reader, or perhaps an editor has added an explanatory note.
Another problem is again related to our modern views of these Renaissance works of art, and is also illustrated in the Botticelli article.
Here are probably the two most famous paintings (now) by Botticelli.
The Birth of Venus (mid 1480s)
172x279 cm (68×110 in)
Primavera (~1482)
202×314 cm (80×124 in)
And here’s what Vasari says of them:
In the increasingly secular centuries since Vasari wrote, these paintings have come to overshadow Botticelli’s other works - to such an extent that in the book I have of the history of art (History of Art), the author devotes all four pages on Botticelli to nothing but these paintings. And what he says about them is immensely interesting.
Finally, the last problem I had with this book is that Vasari gives many long (long!) lists of art works described in (excruciating) detail, that I found pretty boring to read, especially since the book (not surprisingly) contained no pictures of the art.
My personal verdict
The first of the above weaknesses is perhaps excusable; the second is certainly hard to blame Vasari for; and the third could be helped quite a bit by a copiously illustrated edition.
It’s likely the case that most every professional art historian has their own copy of Vasari; but it would be used as a reference book, not pleasure reading.
For the modern reader interested in Renaissance art, Vasari’s Lives is probably not the best choice. But still … that gossipy, judgmental, perhaps even inaccurate personal stuff about the artists can be very interesting, and, yes, pleasurable to read.
One just has to be prepared to skip or skim when the going gets tough.
Not a good history of art – but still a worthwhile recounting of the Lives of the artists.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Previous review: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Random review: Samuel Johnson Is Indignant Lydia Davis short fiction
Next review: Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. Two B
Previous library review: Pablo Picasso a retrospective
Next library review: Cathedral The Story of Its Construction
In the review, I'll use the book’s shortest chapter, on Sandro Botticelli, for examples.
Strengths
The book is extremely interesting, in parts. When the work was first published in Florence in 1550, Michelangelo and Titian were still living, and Botticelli, Leonardo, and Raphael had all died only 30-40 years previously. (The earliest of these artists, Giotto, had died in 1337, over two centuries prior to Vasari's work.) To read the views of these artists' lives and works written by someone this close in time to them, someone who was himself immersed in the culture of the Italian Renaissance, can be intoxicating.
There’s no doubt of the historic importance of the book. It was the first history of art ever written, and though it only treated Italian art (and even there tended to favor somewhat chauvinistically Florentine artists), the Introduction to the book makes many favorable points about it. The minute descriptions of hundreds of works of art, though elementary, “laid the groundwork” for many of the elements of art history – “the development of compositional structure and the manipulation of color, the analysis of the meaning of changes in style and subject matter” - which were to be taken up by later historians.
And the prominence of Lives in the title, instead of something like “works”, or “paintings”, points to one of its strengths: not only do we read short biographies of the artists as introductions to each essay, but more biographical data appears repeatedly throughout. This is still a feature of modern popular articles or books on artists. (As distinct from thick academic books on art history, which focus more on the art than the artist, if I can put it that way.)
For example, in the 8 page chapter on Botticelli, we read that Botticelli had been paid a large sum for the paintings he executed in the recently built Sistine Chapel in the early 1480s. Vasari continues
but this [sum] he consumed and squandered totally during his residence in Rome, where he lived without due care, as was his habit. Having completed the work assigned to him, he returned at once to Florence, where, being whimsical and eccentric, he occupied himself with commenting on a certain part of Dante, illustrating the Inferno and executing prints, over which he wasted much time; and neglecting his proper occupation, he did no work, and thereby caused infinite disorder in his affairs.Finally, each chapter is illustrated with a plate (unattributed). For Botticelli, we have this.
Weaknesses
Here’s one of the paintings, actually a large fresco, that Botticelli did in the Sistine Chapel.
The Temptations of Christ (1480-82)
345×555 cm (136×219 in)
Vasari refers to this work as “The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness’. Since the fresco obviously shows (on the left, center and right of the upper part) the three Biblical temptations, one might wonder whether Vasari ever saw the fresco, or had forgot what he’d seen when he wrote.
This example illustrates that, in trying to look up a painting described or named by Vasari, it can be confusing to figure out what he’s referring to - unless you’re reading an edition in which the translator has done this work for the reader, or perhaps an editor has added an explanatory note.
Another problem is again related to our modern views of these Renaissance works of art, and is also illustrated in the Botticelli article.
Here are probably the two most famous paintings (now) by Botticelli.
The Birth of Venus (mid 1480s)
172x279 cm (68×110 in)
Primavera (~1482)
202×314 cm (80×124 in)
And here’s what Vasari says of them:
For different houses in various parts of [Florence], Sandro painted many pictures of a round form, with numerous figures of women undraped. Of these there are still two examples at Castello, a villa of the Duke Cosimo, one representing the birth of Venus, who is borne to earth by the Loves and Zephyrs: the second also representing the figure of Venus crowned with flowers by the Graces; she is here intended to denote the Spring, and the allegory is expressed by the painter with extraordinary grace.That’s it. But, not only is this description quite unlikely to convey anything useful to a reader about what the paintings actually look like, but the way the first sentence reads, it seems to imply that the pictures are of a “round form”; or at best it’s ambiguous.
In the increasingly secular centuries since Vasari wrote, these paintings have come to overshadow Botticelli’s other works - to such an extent that in the book I have of the history of art (History of Art), the author devotes all four pages on Botticelli to nothing but these paintings. And what he says about them is immensely interesting.
Finally, the last problem I had with this book is that Vasari gives many long (long!) lists of art works described in (excruciating) detail, that I found pretty boring to read, especially since the book (not surprisingly) contained no pictures of the art.
My personal verdict
The first of the above weaknesses is perhaps excusable; the second is certainly hard to blame Vasari for; and the third could be helped quite a bit by a copiously illustrated edition.
It’s likely the case that most every professional art historian has their own copy of Vasari; but it would be used as a reference book, not pleasure reading.
For the modern reader interested in Renaissance art, Vasari’s Lives is probably not the best choice. But still … that gossipy, judgmental, perhaps even inaccurate personal stuff about the artists can be very interesting, and, yes, pleasurable to read.
One just has to be prepared to skip or skim when the going gets tough.
Not a good history of art – but still a worthwhile recounting of the Lives of the artists.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Previous review: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Random review: Samuel Johnson Is Indignant Lydia Davis short fiction
Next review: Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. Two B
Previous library review: Pablo Picasso a retrospective
Next library review: Cathedral The Story of Its Construction
April 13, 2016
Men of genius sometimes accomplish most when they work the least, for they are thinking out inventions and forming in their minds the perfect idea that they subsequently express with their hands.
― Giorgio Vasari, The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects
I normally don't gravitate towards abridged books, but Vasari's 'The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects' is a book that needs to be: 1) read by art history experts in its entirety (2000+ pages), 2) picked through periodically, like an encyclopedic “Garden of Delights”, 3) read abridged, in a version that focuses on the Renaissance's best (Vasari was interested in distinguishing the better from the good and the best from the better). My time here is limited. I only have so much time for the good. In my brief life here I want to hang with the Gods not with the minor prophets. I want Michelangelo not Niccolò Soggi. Sorry Niccolò.
The Modern Library/Gaston du C. de Vere translation, was a great version. It had all the Teenage Ninja Mutant Renaissance artists, but still provided plenty of architects, sculptures and painters that I was either completely uninformed about or lacked much knowledge. Vasari has a natural narrative momentum, even if he does sometimes lose his narrative genius when he's consumed with listing and describing all of an artists works. It is a fine balancing act, to try and describe the artists' life, work, and importance and make the essay complete, without making the piece a laundry list of oil and marble.
One final note. This is one of those books that seems destined to become an amazing hypertext book or app. There were times while reading it I wished I was reading a digital copy that would provide links to pictures, blue prints, smoothly rotating statues, etc. What I wanted was a through the looking-glass, artist's version of The Elements app by Theodore Gray. I want a multiverse of art, history, maps and blueprints. I want to fall into a hypertext of Renaissance Florence and Rome. Audiobooks or paper just fail to do justice to this beautiful subject.
― Giorgio Vasari, The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects
I normally don't gravitate towards abridged books, but Vasari's 'The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects' is a book that needs to be: 1) read by art history experts in its entirety (2000+ pages), 2) picked through periodically, like an encyclopedic “Garden of Delights”, 3) read abridged, in a version that focuses on the Renaissance's best (Vasari was interested in distinguishing the better from the good and the best from the better). My time here is limited. I only have so much time for the good. In my brief life here I want to hang with the Gods not with the minor prophets. I want Michelangelo not Niccolò Soggi. Sorry Niccolò.
The Modern Library/Gaston du C. de Vere translation, was a great version. It had all the Teenage Ninja Mutant Renaissance artists, but still provided plenty of architects, sculptures and painters that I was either completely uninformed about or lacked much knowledge. Vasari has a natural narrative momentum, even if he does sometimes lose his narrative genius when he's consumed with listing and describing all of an artists works. It is a fine balancing act, to try and describe the artists' life, work, and importance and make the essay complete, without making the piece a laundry list of oil and marble.
One final note. This is one of those books that seems destined to become an amazing hypertext book or app. There were times while reading it I wished I was reading a digital copy that would provide links to pictures, blue prints, smoothly rotating statues, etc. What I wanted was a through the looking-glass, artist's version of The Elements app by Theodore Gray. I want a multiverse of art, history, maps and blueprints. I want to fall into a hypertext of Renaissance Florence and Rome. Audiobooks or paper just fail to do justice to this beautiful subject.
December 11, 2018
An artist lives and acquires fame through his works; but with the passing of time, which consumes everything, these works—the first, then the second, and the third—fade away.
After Plutarch’s Lives, Vasari’s Lives of the Artists is likely the most iconic collection of biographies of famous men. He published two editions of the book, the first in 1550, the second in 1568; and both found success in Vasari’s lifetime and have continued to sell well ever since. In life Vasari was a typical Renaissance man, achieving fame for his paintings (he decorated the Palazzo Vecchio) and his architecture (he was responsible for the loggia of the Uffizi), in addition to his work as a biographer. Granted, his paintings are not highly regarded nowadays (though many are pleasing enough to my eyes); but this posthumous verdict did not prevent him from making a fine living. And when you write the first book of art history in the history of art, the rest hardly matters.
The edition I own is highly abridged, as are nearly all popular versions, since the original contains dozens upon dozens of painters, sculptors, and architects—most of whom the casual reader does not know of or care for. This explains why most of the Lives are so short. Indeed, fans of any particular Renaissance artist are liable to be disappointed by Vasari’s treatment. He runs through Sandro Botticelli in all of ten pages, for example, barely pausing to mention the Birth of Venus. Indeed, many of these biographies are hardly biographies at all, just extended catalogues of works. This is certainly useful for the art historian (though Vasari made many mistakes) but it does not make for electrifying reading.
The modern psychoanalyzing mode of artistic biographies was, of course, entirely alien to Vasari, and he seems to regard the artist’s personality as a source of gossip but not of insight. This does not prevent him from including many good stories. Like Plutarch himself, Vasari is rich in anecdote—and, as in Plutarch, half of them are probably false. Fact or fiction, however, a good story is preferable to a dry fact. We hear of Cimabue agreeing to take on Giotto as a pupil, after seeing the young boy scratching on a stone; or of Paolo Uccello staying up long nights to work on problems of perspective. Whether these stories help us to understand the paintings is doubtful; but they do help to bring alive this amazing time in history.
Vasari begins the book with a sketch of the history of art as he understood it. His opinion is not a masterpiece of subtlety. In essence, the Greeks and Romans understood that art begins by copying nature, and so produced excellent works; then art fell into barbarism (Vasari coined the term “gothic” to describe medieval art) in which the ancient knowledge was lost and artists had no knowledge of proper technique; finally the painter Giotto came and revived the arts, inaugurating a process that culminated in the works of Michelangelo. I must say that this view, though little more than naked prejudice, is at least refreshing in Vasari’s conviction that art was ascending and culminating in his own epoch. (Most of us are disposed to think it is declining.) It is striking that Michelangelo’s historic importance was understood even during his own lifetime. This was not an age of poor Van Goghs working in lonely shacks. The great artists were recognized and rewarded when they lived; and younger artists were seen to have surpassed their masters—novel concepts in our romantic age.
The Life of Michelangelo, whom Vasari knew and worshipped, is by far the longest and forms the core of this collection. Indeed, all the other lives can be seen as mere leadup to the great Florentine, who fulfils all the promise of former ages. Vasari here turns from chronicler to hagiographer, praising Michelangelo with every breath. You might even say that Vasari turns into quite the Boswell, including various bits of Michelangelo’s conversation, and also several letters written to him by the great artist, as if to prove that Michelangelo really was his friend. All this makes for good reading, even if the worshipful tone is grating. The second longest Life in my collection is that of another Florentine (Vasari was a fierce patriot of his home city), Filippo Brunelleschi. This life is perhaps even better than that of Michelangelo, as Vasari charts the squabbles and drama behind the scenes of Brunelleschi’s dome.
Vasari’s style is easygoing and almost conversational, and the pages go by quickly. He strikes me as a man full of shallow opinions but of a generous mind and a steady judgment. This book—full of errors, lacking any historical context, and greatly out of step with modern opinion—could hardly be read as a standalone volume on Renaissance painting. But every book on the subject borrows, knowingly or unknowingly, from Vasari, who has given bread to scholars and delight to readers for generations with this charming book.
I have endeavored not only to record what the artists have done but to distinguish between the good, the better, and the best, and to note with some care the methods, manners, styles, behavior, and ideas of the painters and sculptors; I have tried as well as I know how to help people who cannot find out for themselves to understand the sources and origins of various styles, and the reasons for the improvement or decline of the arts at various times and among different people.
August 5, 2022
Floransa’ya gidenler şehri gezdiklerinde Vasari adına sık sık göndermede bulunulduğunu farkederler. Giorgio Vasari’nin (1511-1674) “Sanatçıların Hayat Hikayeleri” adlı kitabı tarihteki ilk “sanat tarihi” kitabı olması nedeniyle çok önemlidir. Biyografik bilgilerin yanında, yazarın dönemine ve daha eski dönemlere ait tarihi bilgiler vermesi açısından da dikkat çekicidir. İlk 1950 yılında basılan kitap birkaç baskı ile genişletilerek bugünkü halini almış ve 1958 de basılmıştır. Vasari aslında bir mimar ve ressamdır, ancak yazdıkları ile tarihçi ve yazar sıfatını da haketmiştir. Mimari eserleri arasında Uffuzi Galerisi, kendi ismiyle anılan Floransa’daki Palazzo Vecchio ile Palazzo Pitti’yi eski köprü üzerinden birbirine bağlayan geçit “Vasari Koridoru” önemli yapıtlarıdır. Keza Palazzo Vecchio’nun 500’ler Salonu (Salone dei Ciquecento) ve diğer duvar resimleri de inanılmaz güzeliktedir.
Kitap üç bölümden oluşuyor ve her bölümün başında Vasari’nin önsöz niyetine sanatın tarihsel gelişimine ilişkin gözlem ve genel değerlendirmeleri yeralıyor. İlk bölümde antik Yunan ve yine Yunan dediği Bizans sanatçıları ile Romalı sanatçılardan bahsediyor. İkinci dönem Floransalı ressam Cimabue ve onun öğrencilerinden biri olan Giotto ile başlar. Bu bölümde artık sanatta yeterliliğe ulaşmış olarak gördüğü 12 sanatçı daha yer almaktadır. Bunların arasında Uccello, Ghibertti ve Masaccio ilk bahsedilenlerdir. 26 yaş gibi çok genç bir yaşta ölen Masaccio’ya ayrı bir parantez açmıştır Vasari. Onun çalıştığı ve çok güzel yapıtlarını barındıran Brancacci Şapeli’nin bir okul olduğunu, çok sayıda sanatçının burayı ziyaret ederek sanatlarını geliştirdiklerini vurgulamaktadır. Brunelleschi, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Fra Filippo Lippi, Boticelli ve Mantegna da bu bölümde anlatılan sanatçılar arasındadır. Üçüncü dönem daha modern bir dönemi anlatır ve Leonardo da Vinci ile açılır. Giorgione, Correggio, Raffaello, Michelangelo ve Tiziano ile tamamlanır.
Vasari kitabında yer verdiği sanatçıların eserlerini çok ayrıntılı olarak yazmıştır, öyleki şömine pervazlarından küçük vazolara, mum kutularından, arma yapımlarına kadar yaptıkları tüm yapıtları listelemiştir. Bunların hepsini okumak biraz sıkıyor insanı ama hayranlık duygusu da artıyor birlikte. Ayrıca çok sayıda anektod, duyduğu dedikodular, hikayeler de aktarış tarzıyla Vasari’nin kitabına renk katmaktadır. Bu arada Michelangelo ile olan dostluğu ve mektuplaşmalarını da nerdeyse başka bir kitap olacak kadar ayrıntılandırmıştır. Benim ilgimi çeken bir husus kendisi de çok başarılı bir sanatçı olan Vasari’nin hiçbir kıskançlık duygusu taşımaması, meslektaşlarını yüceltmede hiç cimri davranmaması, tevazu içinde notlarını kaleme alması oldu. Şimdiki sanatçılarla kıyas kabul etmez bir nahiflik olarak değerlendirdim bunu. Elimizdeki kitap Vasari’nin orijinal kitabından seçkiler içermektedir. Esası çok daha hacimli adeta bir İtalyan Rönesansındaki sanat eserlerinin ve yapıların envanterini çıkarmış bir kitap niteliğindedir. Çevirisini Elif Göktepe’nin yaptığı 400 sayfalık bu kısaltılmış kitabın başına Uşun Tükel tarafından çok yararlı bir bir sunuş yazısı da konulmuştur. Kitabın daha faydalı olması açısından editör tarafından kitap sonunda yeralmak üzere, kitapta bahsi geçen yapıtlara ait çok sayıda görsel konulsaydı keşke.
Okuduğum en ilginç “tarihi” bir sanat tarihi kitabı olduğunu söyleyebilirim. Tabii bulmak zor bu kitabı.
Kitap üç bölümden oluşuyor ve her bölümün başında Vasari’nin önsöz niyetine sanatın tarihsel gelişimine ilişkin gözlem ve genel değerlendirmeleri yeralıyor. İlk bölümde antik Yunan ve yine Yunan dediği Bizans sanatçıları ile Romalı sanatçılardan bahsediyor. İkinci dönem Floransalı ressam Cimabue ve onun öğrencilerinden biri olan Giotto ile başlar. Bu bölümde artık sanatta yeterliliğe ulaşmış olarak gördüğü 12 sanatçı daha yer almaktadır. Bunların arasında Uccello, Ghibertti ve Masaccio ilk bahsedilenlerdir. 26 yaş gibi çok genç bir yaşta ölen Masaccio’ya ayrı bir parantez açmıştır Vasari. Onun çalıştığı ve çok güzel yapıtlarını barındıran Brancacci Şapeli’nin bir okul olduğunu, çok sayıda sanatçının burayı ziyaret ederek sanatlarını geliştirdiklerini vurgulamaktadır. Brunelleschi, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Fra Filippo Lippi, Boticelli ve Mantegna da bu bölümde anlatılan sanatçılar arasındadır. Üçüncü dönem daha modern bir dönemi anlatır ve Leonardo da Vinci ile açılır. Giorgione, Correggio, Raffaello, Michelangelo ve Tiziano ile tamamlanır.
Vasari kitabında yer verdiği sanatçıların eserlerini çok ayrıntılı olarak yazmıştır, öyleki şömine pervazlarından küçük vazolara, mum kutularından, arma yapımlarına kadar yaptıkları tüm yapıtları listelemiştir. Bunların hepsini okumak biraz sıkıyor insanı ama hayranlık duygusu da artıyor birlikte. Ayrıca çok sayıda anektod, duyduğu dedikodular, hikayeler de aktarış tarzıyla Vasari’nin kitabına renk katmaktadır. Bu arada Michelangelo ile olan dostluğu ve mektuplaşmalarını da nerdeyse başka bir kitap olacak kadar ayrıntılandırmıştır. Benim ilgimi çeken bir husus kendisi de çok başarılı bir sanatçı olan Vasari’nin hiçbir kıskançlık duygusu taşımaması, meslektaşlarını yüceltmede hiç cimri davranmaması, tevazu içinde notlarını kaleme alması oldu. Şimdiki sanatçılarla kıyas kabul etmez bir nahiflik olarak değerlendirdim bunu. Elimizdeki kitap Vasari’nin orijinal kitabından seçkiler içermektedir. Esası çok daha hacimli adeta bir İtalyan Rönesansındaki sanat eserlerinin ve yapıların envanterini çıkarmış bir kitap niteliğindedir. Çevirisini Elif Göktepe’nin yaptığı 400 sayfalık bu kısaltılmış kitabın başına Uşun Tükel tarafından çok yararlı bir bir sunuş yazısı da konulmuştur. Kitabın daha faydalı olması açısından editör tarafından kitap sonunda yeralmak üzere, kitapta bahsi geçen yapıtlara ait çok sayıda görsel konulsaydı keşke.
Okuduğum en ilginç “tarihi” bir sanat tarihi kitabı olduğunu söyleyebilirim. Tabii bulmak zor bu kitabı.
October 1, 2021
Vasari is right to gush
I dip into Vasari now and then for various reasons. So I’ve read the lives of the artists over the years in pieces, never from start to end. I think I found my copy back in 1983 when I was studying the Renaissance by correspondence for high school. My new little outer suburban school was small and didn’t offer many subjects and lacked an academic drive. It was a big mistake to take it because I needed to hear things like Vasari’s words uttered by someone in person who loved art as much as Vasari. I dropped out, though I’ll say in my defence that distance learning has improved since then. Though I still love the historical period and reflect on it regardless of my non-academic achievement.
I just read the quoted passage below and thought what a significant moment it expresses, both in the work of Michelangelo’s Pieta that it describes and the ideas of the time it expresses. I realised that this was one of those moments in history when the observation of the human replaced the devotion to the divine in our thinking. Human endeavour in art had come so far, the technical and imaginary capability of the artist stands supreme. But Vasari says it better, even though he’s quite an articulate gusher.
https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1...
”For the Pieta was a revelation of all the potentialities and force of the art of the sculptor. Among the many beautiful features (including the inspired draperies) this is notably demonstrated by the body of Christ himself. It would be impossible to find a body showing greater mastery of art and possessing more beautiful members, or a nude with more detail in the muscles, veins, and nerves stretched over their framework of bones, or a more deathly corpse. The lovely expression of the head, the harmony in the joints and attachment of the arms, legs and trunk and the fine tracery of pulses and veins are all so wonderful that it staggers belief that the hand of an artist could have executed this inspired and admirable work so perfectly and in so short a time. It is certainly a miracle that a formless block of stone could ever have been reduced to a perfection that nature is scarcely able to create in the flesh. Michelangelo put into his work so much love and effort that (something he never did again) he left his name written across the sash over Our Lady’s breast.”
So I thought I’d share this wonderful excerpt. I copied it all out so I could feel the words as I wrote them.
Note how Vasari so clearly values the mastery of a man over nature in this work a perfection that nature is scarcely able to create in the flesh
The focus is solely on the human, even to the point that he believes it’s fitting for the artist to sign over the breast of the mother of Christ. The artist choses to level himself with the divine. Or brings the mother back to her human origins. She’s far too beautiful here to be just a god, since beauty is something that seems to pre-occupy we mortals. After all she is mourning her son and a member of the holy trinity. As mother of Christ, as I understand it, Mary was venerated since 431 at the council of Ephesus. The church has a whole culture of veneration that seems to place her among the divine. So, her appearance in the Pieta places her between the human and divine (perhaps I should’ve continued my study).
https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1...
Vasari’s publishing of these pages is in itself a significant statement of historical change. Art is now seen in a new way; old paradigms were broken through.
One day I will work out how to add a picture to the text.
I dip into Vasari now and then for various reasons. So I’ve read the lives of the artists over the years in pieces, never from start to end. I think I found my copy back in 1983 when I was studying the Renaissance by correspondence for high school. My new little outer suburban school was small and didn’t offer many subjects and lacked an academic drive. It was a big mistake to take it because I needed to hear things like Vasari’s words uttered by someone in person who loved art as much as Vasari. I dropped out, though I’ll say in my defence that distance learning has improved since then. Though I still love the historical period and reflect on it regardless of my non-academic achievement.
I just read the quoted passage below and thought what a significant moment it expresses, both in the work of Michelangelo’s Pieta that it describes and the ideas of the time it expresses. I realised that this was one of those moments in history when the observation of the human replaced the devotion to the divine in our thinking. Human endeavour in art had come so far, the technical and imaginary capability of the artist stands supreme. But Vasari says it better, even though he’s quite an articulate gusher.
https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1...
”For the Pieta was a revelation of all the potentialities and force of the art of the sculptor. Among the many beautiful features (including the inspired draperies) this is notably demonstrated by the body of Christ himself. It would be impossible to find a body showing greater mastery of art and possessing more beautiful members, or a nude with more detail in the muscles, veins, and nerves stretched over their framework of bones, or a more deathly corpse. The lovely expression of the head, the harmony in the joints and attachment of the arms, legs and trunk and the fine tracery of pulses and veins are all so wonderful that it staggers belief that the hand of an artist could have executed this inspired and admirable work so perfectly and in so short a time. It is certainly a miracle that a formless block of stone could ever have been reduced to a perfection that nature is scarcely able to create in the flesh. Michelangelo put into his work so much love and effort that (something he never did again) he left his name written across the sash over Our Lady’s breast.”
So I thought I’d share this wonderful excerpt. I copied it all out so I could feel the words as I wrote them.
Note how Vasari so clearly values the mastery of a man over nature in this work a perfection that nature is scarcely able to create in the flesh
The focus is solely on the human, even to the point that he believes it’s fitting for the artist to sign over the breast of the mother of Christ. The artist choses to level himself with the divine. Or brings the mother back to her human origins. She’s far too beautiful here to be just a god, since beauty is something that seems to pre-occupy we mortals. After all she is mourning her son and a member of the holy trinity. As mother of Christ, as I understand it, Mary was venerated since 431 at the council of Ephesus. The church has a whole culture of veneration that seems to place her among the divine. So, her appearance in the Pieta places her between the human and divine (perhaps I should’ve continued my study).
https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1...
Vasari’s publishing of these pages is in itself a significant statement of historical change. Art is now seen in a new way; old paradigms were broken through.
One day I will work out how to add a picture to the text.
August 14, 2013
I took a Master's level Art History class on Giorgia Vasari at FSU a few years ago and this was the translation of the book that the professor wanted us to buy for the class. And for good reason. It's probably the most complete and accurate translation of Vasari's works out there and is downright affordable in this edition (yes $44 is affordable for this. It's a nice two volume edition with a slipcover to store the books in and the books themselves have a nice sturdy binding. If you have to buy a translation of Vasari's works or just want to explore what the first art historian wrote, you can't go wrong with this edition.
February 19, 2021
This is a great book covering a selection of the Italian Renaissance artists from Vasari's Lives of the Artists. It is thoughtfully illustrated for its time and has some lovely additions such as portraits of each artist and a chapter on patrons. I recommend this edition over the usual paperback despite it being only a selection. It makes reading Vasari all the more meaningful because there are visual references. The short extra essays bring essential context.
June 1, 2012
My undergraduate degree is in Art History so I've read my fair share of Art History books. It was interesting to me the way he presented artists which was very different than any Art History book I've ever read. Most Modern Art Historians tell you why the artist is important and what he or she did for art but I've never heard it said that this artist's work was so beautiful that you wonder if he is human or if his hand was touched by God -- That's how Vasari presents the artists. He puts a lot of his own opinion in the biography of these artists and their works. I really enjoyed reading his opinion because by the third artist I realized that sometimes Vasari's opinion of what was great art was completely different than my own opinions. It made me think that maybe it's because so much has happened in art through the centuries that time and modernism may have changed the way we look at art. It was very interesting. I even read all of the biography of Michalangelo even though he wasn't my favorite artist to begin with, Vasari loved him so much that I think I like Michaelangelo better now. I also re-discovered some artists such as Antonio da Corregio and Andrea Mantegna, who I forgot about, though I do not know why.
February 18, 2018
Overall, I quite enjoyed the varied lives depicted by Vasari. However, the more impactful point that I took from this book is Vasari's theories on the development of art. His prefaces are slightly long winded but they are the parts in which he sets forth his idea of the decline of art and it's eventual rebirth from Cimabue to Titian.
My only issues with the book are centred around the translators. I normally don't have an issue with an older style of English but I honestly found this translation irksome and incredibly long winded at points. Phrases could have easily been updated by the editor. There is no translators note so I'm not aware of whether or not this is a special or famous translation. It's such a shame because I was loving the narratives.
Besides this the editor provided good footnotes but bizzarely did not include any for Vasari's descriptions of the Academy of Florence. He obviously put a lot of effort into the 200+ pages for the other parts of the book and I sorely missed it in this part.
My only issues with the book are centred around the translators. I normally don't have an issue with an older style of English but I honestly found this translation irksome and incredibly long winded at points. Phrases could have easily been updated by the editor. There is no translators note so I'm not aware of whether or not this is a special or famous translation. It's such a shame because I was loving the narratives.
Besides this the editor provided good footnotes but bizzarely did not include any for Vasari's descriptions of the Academy of Florence. He obviously put a lot of effort into the 200+ pages for the other parts of the book and I sorely missed it in this part.
February 1, 2020
Nikada u životu mi nije bilo teže da pročitam neku knjigu od ove. Gore je čak i od udžbenika iz marksizma (da, ja sam iz te generacije), a statistika je u odnosu na ovo zabavno štivo. Stil pisanja je ... nepostojeći... Svaki umetnik je opisan istim rečima, svi su pokazali neverovatan talenat od malena i nadmašili svoje učitelje. Isti prostor je dat i onima koji su poživeli dvadesetak godina i onima koji su dostigli duboku starost, bez obzira da li je od njihovog rada sačuvano svega nekoliko dela ili stotine. Nešto više prostora je dato Mikelanđelu, a i to zato što je Vazari bio njegov učenik.
Ono malo što sam znala o ovim umetnicima, sada je zamagljeno jednoličnim opisima, prostim nabrajanjem i izjavama da je nešto urađeno "izvanredno lepim načinom", što se ponavlja, i ponavlja, i ponavlja...
Nije mi jasno zašto se ova knjiga navodi kao neizostavno štivo za ljubitelje umetnosti, meni je bila neopisivo dosadna.
Ono malo što sam znala o ovim umetnicima, sada je zamagljeno jednoličnim opisima, prostim nabrajanjem i izjavama da je nešto urađeno "izvanredno lepim načinom", što se ponavlja, i ponavlja, i ponavlja...
Nije mi jasno zašto se ova knjiga navodi kao neizostavno štivo za ljubitelje umetnosti, meni je bila neopisivo dosadna.
December 4, 2021
Bu kitap resmen yillardir elimde sürünüyordu artik azmettim bitirdim. İcindeki sanatcilara saygimdan bir vermedim ancak bu nasıl sıkıcı bir dildir... Ronesans doneminde yasamis Giorgio Vasari tarafindan o donemde yasamis (bizzat arkadaslari) yaklasik 20 ressam ve heykeltırasin yasam oykuleri ve eserleri anlatiliyor. Sorun su ki eserlerinin fotograflari eklenmedigi icin sayfalarca anlattigi eserleri ve detaylarini gozunde canlandirmak zor. İnternetten baksan o anlattigi donemde henuz eserlere isimler de verilmediginden bulmak zor. Ara ara ilginc hikayelere rast geldim ancak genel olarak cok zorlandim okurken. Sanat tarihi uzerine calisan veya arastirma yapan kisiler icin essiz bir kaynak olabilir ama normal okuyucu kitlesine hitap eden bir yapit oldugunu düşünmüyorum. Fotograflarla zengilestirilse bence çok daha guzel olurdu.
January 1, 2021
2020 yılında okuduğum son kitap ve severek okudum. Okuması zor bir kitap; fakat bilmediğim çok şey öğrendim. Çok sayıda sanatçının hayat hikayeleri, daha doğrusu ürettiği eserleri ve diğer sanatçılar ile arasındaki bağı okuyorsunuz. Celil Sadık'ın "Uygarlığın Ayak İzleri" isimli ilk çıkan kitabındaki dip notlarında tavsiye edilen kitaptı. Okumaktan ve Sanat Tarihine ait yeni şeyler öğrenmekten memnuniyet duyduğum bir kitap oldu.
September 5, 2016
A great book to delve into whether you have a love of Italian Renaissance Art or not.An exceptional read.
July 25, 2023
Una densa enciclopedia d'arte, ma eccessivamente toscanocentrica
Un'opera mastodontica che offre un'imponente mole di informazioni sui grandi maestri dell'arte. L'autore ha svolto un lavoro encomiabile nell'approfondire la vita e le opere di numerosi artisti, trasmettendo una vasta conoscenza nel campo.
Tuttavia, devo ammettere che la lettura di questo libro risulta impegnativa. La sua natura nozionistica può rendere difficile il proseguimento della lettura per i non esperti o per coloro che cercano una narrazione più fluida e coinvolgente.
Un altro aspetto che mi ha colpito negativamente è la netta inclinazione toscanocentrica dell'autore. La maggiore enfasi sull'arte toscana può risultare un limite, poiché trascura l'importante contributo artistico di altre regioni italiane.
Personalmente, ho apprezzato l'opera, ma ho trovato il suo contenuto così denso da richiedere uno sforzo considerevole per essere digerito. Tuttavia, se siete appassionati d'arte e desiderate esplorare a fondo la vita e le opere di numerosi artisti, potrebbe essere una lettura gratificante.
Un piccolo appunto riguarda la distribuzione dello spazio dedicato agli artisti all'interno del libro. Mi è sembrato che Michelangelo fosse particolarmente sovra-rappresentato rispetto ad altri giganti dell'arte come Leonardo o Raffaello, cosa che potrebbe essere stata bilanciata meglio.
In conclusione, "Le vite dei più eccellenti pittori, scultori e architetti" è un'opera enciclopedica e completa che offre un ampio panorama dell'arte, ma richiede dedizione e pazienza per essere apprezzata appieno.
Un'opera mastodontica che offre un'imponente mole di informazioni sui grandi maestri dell'arte. L'autore ha svolto un lavoro encomiabile nell'approfondire la vita e le opere di numerosi artisti, trasmettendo una vasta conoscenza nel campo.
Tuttavia, devo ammettere che la lettura di questo libro risulta impegnativa. La sua natura nozionistica può rendere difficile il proseguimento della lettura per i non esperti o per coloro che cercano una narrazione più fluida e coinvolgente.
Un altro aspetto che mi ha colpito negativamente è la netta inclinazione toscanocentrica dell'autore. La maggiore enfasi sull'arte toscana può risultare un limite, poiché trascura l'importante contributo artistico di altre regioni italiane.
Personalmente, ho apprezzato l'opera, ma ho trovato il suo contenuto così denso da richiedere uno sforzo considerevole per essere digerito. Tuttavia, se siete appassionati d'arte e desiderate esplorare a fondo la vita e le opere di numerosi artisti, potrebbe essere una lettura gratificante.
Un piccolo appunto riguarda la distribuzione dello spazio dedicato agli artisti all'interno del libro. Mi è sembrato che Michelangelo fosse particolarmente sovra-rappresentato rispetto ad altri giganti dell'arte come Leonardo o Raffaello, cosa che potrebbe essere stata bilanciata meglio.
In conclusione, "Le vite dei più eccellenti pittori, scultori e architetti" è un'opera enciclopedica e completa che offre un ampio panorama dell'arte, ma richiede dedizione e pazienza per essere apprezzata appieno.
February 20, 2023
This is the Heritage Club 1967 2 volume edition: 730 pages 32 lives 32 color plates.
Enjoyable and opinionated by the 'father' of art history who was not only an artist himself but also a contemporary of many of those he writes about. What he doesn't talk much about is the politics against which his lives take place. I would highly recommend reading a history or two (or Wikipedia) before undertaking this work.
Enjoyable and opinionated by the 'father' of art history who was not only an artist himself but also a contemporary of many of those he writes about. What he doesn't talk much about is the politics against which his lives take place. I would highly recommend reading a history or two (or Wikipedia) before undertaking this work.
May 31, 2023
Bueno, podría haber sido peor, al menos se comprende. Eso sí, Vasari peca de creerse superior por haber vivido la época dorada del Renacimiento y ser contemporáneo de Miguel Ángel. Se cansa de criticar el arte medieval, diciendo que solo Giotto se salga de esa época oscura y analfabeta. La moralidad de Vasari es bastante cuestionable.
2/5. Muy aburrido, pero se entiende.
2/5. Muy aburrido, pero se entiende.
June 18, 2023
That was a slog!
As a good read this is probably two star. It is dry, repetitive and in places hard work.
As a historical source it is vital five star level: Vasari being one of, if not the source of art history.
(Although he can't be relied on for facts. The footnote about an alleged murder springs to mind...)
As a good read this is probably two star. It is dry, repetitive and in places hard work.
As a historical source it is vital five star level: Vasari being one of, if not the source of art history.
(Although he can't be relied on for facts. The footnote about an alleged murder springs to mind...)
January 2, 2023
Imprescindible para un estudiante de Historia del Arte
September 12, 2023
A nice historical work on Italian Renaissance art. It's an abridged version, but covers most of the major painters, sculptors, and architects of the time.
Read
April 14, 2024Painting painting sculpture painting sculpture sculpture painting painting. Inappropriate Turtles joke. Giftshop.
I’m a barbarian.
Next!
I’m a barbarian.
Next!
September 26, 2020
great anecdotes, not so great length. brunelleschi, leonardo and michelangelo. -(history class)
April 23, 2016
Very fun compilation of biographies of painters, sculptors and architects, plus a running moral commentary on their lives by Giorgio Vasari, who was a contemporary of the divine Michelagnolo.
Leonardo da Vinci wrote in his Treatise on Painting, "every painter depicts himself" (ogni pittore dipinge se), but did not mean the aim of every artist is auto-mimesis. Nor was this the belief of Michelangelo, who, according to Vasari, used to say that "every painter portrays himself" (ogni pittore ritrae se medesimo). Rather, it implied that the artist necessarily perceives the world around her after her own likeness. How the artist represents what she sees is determined by innate aesthetic criteria -- what Vasari calls giudizio (judgment), which artists continually refine through experience and observation.
Donatello, like the ancient king Pygmalion before his beloved statue of Galatea, implores his Zuccone to speak. Like the figure of an angel in the Cavalcanti Annunciation, whose "humility and gratitude... are due to one who presents an unexpected gift, and the more when the gift is a great one." Donato's very identity is synonymous with his name: the gift (dono) he has bestowed (donato) on the world through his art. So, too, the paintings of Antonio Allegri, better known as Correggio, bring happiness (allegria) to all who look upon them.
Properzia de' Rossi is the only female artist to be given a separate vita. As a scultrice, Properzia was even more of an anomaly to the profession, for sculpture required not just artistry but brute strength. Almost by necessity, her art became an outlet for "the raging fire of her own passion." Her love for a handsome gentleman gone unrequited, she projected this longing onto the adulterous figure of Potiphar's wife, wantonly grabbing at Joseph as he flees from her bed. This relief on the façade of S. Petronio, "the vast delight of all Bologna," should have brought her success. But the illusion of art touched too close to life, and her promising career ended in shame.
*
While Giorgione was employed in doing honor both to himself and to his country, and frequenting many houses in order to entertain his various friends with his music, he became enamored of a lady, and they took much joy, one with another, in their love.
*
Roman lime, which is made of travertine and white in color, does not dry very readily, and when mixed with pozzolana, which is of a tawny color, makes a dark mixture, which, when soft, is very watery. Michelagnolo: It will be finished when I shall have satisfied myself in the matter of art."
"Holy Father, in those times men did not bedeck themselves with gold, and those that are painted there were never very rich, but rather holy men, on which account they despised riches."
Michelagnolo consumed many years in quarrying marbles.
His friends asked him: "Should you not make your lantern very different from that of Filippo Brunelleschi?"
And he answered them: "Different it can be made with ease, but better, no."
Michelagnolo --
La Notte che tu vedi in si dolci atti
Dormire, fu da un Angelo scolpita
In questo sasso; e perche dorme, ha vita
Destala, se no 'l credi, e parleratti.
To which Michelagnolo, speaking in the person of Night, answered thus --
Grato mi è il sonno, e più l'esser di sasso;
Mentre che il danno e la vergogna dura,
Non veder' non sentir' m'è gran ventura.
Però non mi destar'; deh parla basso.
The Night that you see in it sweet acts
Sleep, it was a carved angel
In this rock; and why sleeps, has life
Arouses, if not the creeds, and will talk to you.
Grateful I sleep, and be the stone;
While the damage and the harsh shame,
Not seeing 'not hearing' to me is very fortunate.
But I do not arouse; and speak low.
Truly, if the enmity that there is between Fortune and Genius, between the envy of the one and the excellence of the other, had not prevented such a work from being carried to completion, Art was like to prove to Nature that she surpassed her by a great measure in every conception.
Morti li morti, i vivi parean vivi - Dante
Killed them dead, and the living seemed they live - Dante
Michelagnolo replied:
"He who goes behind others can never go in front of them, and he who is not able to work well for himself cannot make good use of the works of others."
"He has done well, but I know not what this scene will do no the day of Judgment, when all bodies shall recover their members, for there will be nothing left of it" -- a warning to those who practice art, that they should make a habit of working by themselves.
Leonardo da Vinci wrote in his Treatise on Painting, "every painter depicts himself" (ogni pittore dipinge se), but did not mean the aim of every artist is auto-mimesis. Nor was this the belief of Michelangelo, who, according to Vasari, used to say that "every painter portrays himself" (ogni pittore ritrae se medesimo). Rather, it implied that the artist necessarily perceives the world around her after her own likeness. How the artist represents what she sees is determined by innate aesthetic criteria -- what Vasari calls giudizio (judgment), which artists continually refine through experience and observation.
Donatello, like the ancient king Pygmalion before his beloved statue of Galatea, implores his Zuccone to speak. Like the figure of an angel in the Cavalcanti Annunciation, whose "humility and gratitude... are due to one who presents an unexpected gift, and the more when the gift is a great one." Donato's very identity is synonymous with his name: the gift (dono) he has bestowed (donato) on the world through his art. So, too, the paintings of Antonio Allegri, better known as Correggio, bring happiness (allegria) to all who look upon them.
Properzia de' Rossi is the only female artist to be given a separate vita. As a scultrice, Properzia was even more of an anomaly to the profession, for sculpture required not just artistry but brute strength. Almost by necessity, her art became an outlet for "the raging fire of her own passion." Her love for a handsome gentleman gone unrequited, she projected this longing onto the adulterous figure of Potiphar's wife, wantonly grabbing at Joseph as he flees from her bed. This relief on the façade of S. Petronio, "the vast delight of all Bologna," should have brought her success. But the illusion of art touched too close to life, and her promising career ended in shame.
*
While Giorgione was employed in doing honor both to himself and to his country, and frequenting many houses in order to entertain his various friends with his music, he became enamored of a lady, and they took much joy, one with another, in their love.
*
Roman lime, which is made of travertine and white in color, does not dry very readily, and when mixed with pozzolana, which is of a tawny color, makes a dark mixture, which, when soft, is very watery. Michelagnolo: It will be finished when I shall have satisfied myself in the matter of art."
"Holy Father, in those times men did not bedeck themselves with gold, and those that are painted there were never very rich, but rather holy men, on which account they despised riches."
Michelagnolo consumed many years in quarrying marbles.
His friends asked him: "Should you not make your lantern very different from that of Filippo Brunelleschi?"
And he answered them: "Different it can be made with ease, but better, no."
Michelagnolo --
La Notte che tu vedi in si dolci atti
Dormire, fu da un Angelo scolpita
In questo sasso; e perche dorme, ha vita
Destala, se no 'l credi, e parleratti.
To which Michelagnolo, speaking in the person of Night, answered thus --
Grato mi è il sonno, e più l'esser di sasso;
Mentre che il danno e la vergogna dura,
Non veder' non sentir' m'è gran ventura.
Però non mi destar'; deh parla basso.
The Night that you see in it sweet acts
Sleep, it was a carved angel
In this rock; and why sleeps, has life
Arouses, if not the creeds, and will talk to you.
Grateful I sleep, and be the stone;
While the damage and the harsh shame,
Not seeing 'not hearing' to me is very fortunate.
But I do not arouse; and speak low.
Truly, if the enmity that there is between Fortune and Genius, between the envy of the one and the excellence of the other, had not prevented such a work from being carried to completion, Art was like to prove to Nature that she surpassed her by a great measure in every conception.
Morti li morti, i vivi parean vivi - Dante
Killed them dead, and the living seemed they live - Dante
Michelagnolo replied:
"He who goes behind others can never go in front of them, and he who is not able to work well for himself cannot make good use of the works of others."
"He has done well, but I know not what this scene will do no the day of Judgment, when all bodies shall recover their members, for there will be nothing left of it" -- a warning to those who practice art, that they should make a habit of working by themselves.
February 17, 2022
A series of artist biographies written by 16th-century Italian painter and architect Giorgio Vasari, which is considered "perhaps the most famous, and even today the most-read work of the older literature of art", "some of the Italian Renaissance's most influential writing on art", and "the first important book on art history".
The writer Paolo Giovio expressed his desire to compose a treatise on contemporary artists at a party in the house of Cardinal Farnese, who asked Vasari to provide Giovio with as much relevant information as possible. Giovio instead yielded the project to Vasari.
As the first Italian art historian, Vasari initiated the genre of an encyclopedia of artistic biographies that continues today. Vasari's work was first published in 1550 by Lorenzo Torrentino in Florence, and dedicated to Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. It included a valuable treatise on the technical methods employed in the arts. It was partly rewritten and enlarged in 1568 and provided with woodcut portraits of artists.
The work has a consistent and notorious favour of Florentines and tends to attribute to them all the new developments in Renaissance art – for example, the invention of engraving. Venetian art in particular, let alone other parts of Europe, is systematically ignored. Between his first and second editions, Vasari visited Venice and the second edition gave more attention to Venetian art (finally including Titian) without achieving a neutral point of view. John Symonds claimed in 1899 that, "It is clear that Vasari often wrote with carelessness, confusing dates and places, and taking no pains to verify the truth of his assertions" (in regards to Vasari's life of Nicola Pisano), while acknowledging that, despite these shortcomings, it is one of the basic sources for information on the Renaissance in Italy.
Vasari's biographies are interspersed with amusing gossip. Many of his anecdotes have the ring of truth, although likely inventions. Others are generic fictions, such as the tale of young Giotto painting a fly on the surface of a painting by Cimabue that the older master repeatedly tried to brush away, a genre tale that echoes anecdotes told of the Greek painter Apelles. He did not research archives for exact dates, as modern art historians do, and naturally his biographies are most dependable for the painters of his own generation and the immediately preceding one. Modern criticism—with all the new materials opened up by research—has corrected many of his traditional dates and attributions. The work is widely considered a classic even today, though it is widely agreed that it must be supplemented by modern scientific research.
Vasari includes a forty-two-page sketch of his own biography at the end of his Vite, and adds further details about himself and his family in his lives of Lazzaro Vasari and Francesco de' Rossi.
Vasari's Vite has been described as "by far the most influential single text for the history of Renaissance art" and "the most important work of Renaissance biography of artists". Its influence is situated mainly in three domains: as an example for contemporary and later biographers and art historians, as a defining factor in the view on the Renaissance and the role of Florence and Rome in it, and as a major source of information on the lives and works of early Renaissance artists from Italy.
The writer Paolo Giovio expressed his desire to compose a treatise on contemporary artists at a party in the house of Cardinal Farnese, who asked Vasari to provide Giovio with as much relevant information as possible. Giovio instead yielded the project to Vasari.
As the first Italian art historian, Vasari initiated the genre of an encyclopedia of artistic biographies that continues today. Vasari's work was first published in 1550 by Lorenzo Torrentino in Florence, and dedicated to Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. It included a valuable treatise on the technical methods employed in the arts. It was partly rewritten and enlarged in 1568 and provided with woodcut portraits of artists.
The work has a consistent and notorious favour of Florentines and tends to attribute to them all the new developments in Renaissance art – for example, the invention of engraving. Venetian art in particular, let alone other parts of Europe, is systematically ignored. Between his first and second editions, Vasari visited Venice and the second edition gave more attention to Venetian art (finally including Titian) without achieving a neutral point of view. John Symonds claimed in 1899 that, "It is clear that Vasari often wrote with carelessness, confusing dates and places, and taking no pains to verify the truth of his assertions" (in regards to Vasari's life of Nicola Pisano), while acknowledging that, despite these shortcomings, it is one of the basic sources for information on the Renaissance in Italy.
Vasari's biographies are interspersed with amusing gossip. Many of his anecdotes have the ring of truth, although likely inventions. Others are generic fictions, such as the tale of young Giotto painting a fly on the surface of a painting by Cimabue that the older master repeatedly tried to brush away, a genre tale that echoes anecdotes told of the Greek painter Apelles. He did not research archives for exact dates, as modern art historians do, and naturally his biographies are most dependable for the painters of his own generation and the immediately preceding one. Modern criticism—with all the new materials opened up by research—has corrected many of his traditional dates and attributions. The work is widely considered a classic even today, though it is widely agreed that it must be supplemented by modern scientific research.
Vasari includes a forty-two-page sketch of his own biography at the end of his Vite, and adds further details about himself and his family in his lives of Lazzaro Vasari and Francesco de' Rossi.
Vasari's Vite has been described as "by far the most influential single text for the history of Renaissance art" and "the most important work of Renaissance biography of artists". Its influence is situated mainly in three domains: as an example for contemporary and later biographers and art historians, as a defining factor in the view on the Renaissance and the role of Florence and Rome in it, and as a major source of information on the lives and works of early Renaissance artists from Italy.
August 18, 2016
What an achievement! I read the first half of this book many, many years ago as a student, but don't remember reading part three. The Oxford version reads well and has a chronology, useful notes and corrections accompanying it.
I was so interested in the one female artist listed that I went straight to it, then went back to the beginning. : )
Georgio Vasari constructs a work about Italian Western artists, an amazing attempt since he didn't have half of the tools that most historians have these days. Despite the fact that most of these people created in the main Christian religious works, Vasari in his preface does admit that, 'what was the most infinitely harmful and damaging to those professions, even more so than the things noted earlier, was the fervent zeal of the new Christian religion...', in eradicating many great pagan works, but not out of hate but out of 'zeal'.
However, Vasari is a good storyteller and talks about many works some of which I've seen and many that don't exist anymore. At times he seems a bit repetitive, but the accounts and stories behind these artists soon make up for this.
This volume is split into parts and recall the great works of earlier artists like Giotto which was followed by younger ones e.g. Donatello, and then maturer works by people like Raphael and Titian. Some of these accounts talk at length about religious works, some are funny, some are engaging and I think in the accounts of Michelangelo and Raphael we see not only how well respected these artists were but what difficulties they had in their endeavours.
Vasari advocates drawing, particularly from nature, as foundations for good art. These ideas inspired many artists and are at the heart of Atelier teaching that has had a rebirth of late with a recent major exhibition of John Singer Sargent's work, and a renewed interest in the writings and the teachings of Harold Speed and Andrew Loomis.
Sadly, there are not very many women artists. There is one listed but within this account he mentions a few other notable women artists that were equal to her achievements. If you are not a Christian or religious some bits of the text might be annoying. Also, representations of Jewish people in some of this art were not always favourable, though the New Testament stories are not that favourable either and I suspect a reflection of this. Otherwise I liked it despite some issues with it. A must for those interested in Renaissance art.
I was so interested in the one female artist listed that I went straight to it, then went back to the beginning. : )
Georgio Vasari constructs a work about Italian Western artists, an amazing attempt since he didn't have half of the tools that most historians have these days. Despite the fact that most of these people created in the main Christian religious works, Vasari in his preface does admit that, 'what was the most infinitely harmful and damaging to those professions, even more so than the things noted earlier, was the fervent zeal of the new Christian religion...', in eradicating many great pagan works, but not out of hate but out of 'zeal'.
However, Vasari is a good storyteller and talks about many works some of which I've seen and many that don't exist anymore. At times he seems a bit repetitive, but the accounts and stories behind these artists soon make up for this.
This volume is split into parts and recall the great works of earlier artists like Giotto which was followed by younger ones e.g. Donatello, and then maturer works by people like Raphael and Titian. Some of these accounts talk at length about religious works, some are funny, some are engaging and I think in the accounts of Michelangelo and Raphael we see not only how well respected these artists were but what difficulties they had in their endeavours.
Vasari advocates drawing, particularly from nature, as foundations for good art. These ideas inspired many artists and are at the heart of Atelier teaching that has had a rebirth of late with a recent major exhibition of John Singer Sargent's work, and a renewed interest in the writings and the teachings of Harold Speed and Andrew Loomis.
Sadly, there are not very many women artists. There is one listed but within this account he mentions a few other notable women artists that were equal to her achievements. If you are not a Christian or religious some bits of the text might be annoying. Also, representations of Jewish people in some of this art were not always favourable, though the New Testament stories are not that favourable either and I suspect a reflection of this. Otherwise I liked it despite some issues with it. A must for those interested in Renaissance art.
April 18, 2020
Reading this book while looking at the paintings by the artists in the National Gallery was a cherished project of mine since the last decade. Ill health prevented me from starting it until 2 years ago. I know more about Renaissance Art than I did before and now I'd like to see more of the paintings mentioned in other galleries. Selections were also part of my reading list for the special subject, the Age of Macchiavelli in my honours history degree at the University of Glasgow in the 80s. Again my undiagnosed illness stymied my ability to read. So this marks another achievement for me and gives me some kind of closure. But for that I'd be much better read and travelled. Still better late than never at all and now I feel great happiness. As for Vasari's style, his biographies of the various artist are intriguing and skillfully sketched as are descriptions of the paintings, sculpture and architecture and how they came into being.
July 10, 2017
It is indeed a privilege to read a book written by a contemporary and compatriot of people we can only admire today.
But because it was written so long ago, it is not the kind of book one reads from cover to cover. I enjoy to read the relevant chapter in addition to the artist I am reading about at the time.
Just as good old movies never looses their charm, in spite of the fact that they certainly lack all the technology and modern movie making techniques available nowadays - it is for just that fact that we still enjoy them. I love Vasari's slow pace and the absence of drama and tension.
But because it was written so long ago, it is not the kind of book one reads from cover to cover. I enjoy to read the relevant chapter in addition to the artist I am reading about at the time.
Just as good old movies never looses their charm, in spite of the fact that they certainly lack all the technology and modern movie making techniques available nowadays - it is for just that fact that we still enjoy them. I love Vasari's slow pace and the absence of drama and tension.
November 14, 2018
A milestone, the first milestone in the history of art. Vasari made an innovative book for art, not only in a formalist way, but also because some of the information he gathered together are precious nowadays and helps us to define one of the most fertiles of italian's art periods.
Last but not least, the anedocts are just hilarious, i found myself laughing alone in more than a spot, and it helps when you're reading something that difficult and fullfilled of informations.
An obliged passage for every art enthusiast.
Last but not least, the anedocts are just hilarious, i found myself laughing alone in more than a spot, and it helps when you're reading something that difficult and fullfilled of informations.
An obliged passage for every art enthusiast.
April 4, 2022
This has been sitting on the shelf for ages waiting to be read Someday. I really did not expect it to be the Good Read that it turned out to be. Vasari knew many of these artists personally or they were only a few generations before him. He gives lists of their works, as well as insights into their characters.
I was curious to note that one bit of Dante was translated (in this edition) by Dorothy Sayers.
I was curious to note that one bit of Dante was translated (in this edition) by Dorothy Sayers.
May 3, 2014
This book made me want to travel to Florence. It was very long and detailed, but it was interesting to see how he could praise work of various eras while understanding the limitations of individual artists.
Filippino Lippi had the best story of the book. Constantly harassed by people who wanted to steal his ideas and others who were jealous of him.
Filippino Lippi had the best story of the book. Constantly harassed by people who wanted to steal his ideas and others who were jealous of him.
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