A few years ago a learned bibliophile, stumbled on a 500 years old manuscript hidden among the funds of an Italian library and recognized it as the handwritten draft of a mythical book, thought lost and for centuries, actively but vainly sought after. "DE LUDO SCACHORUM" lost opus of Luca Pacioli, Franciscan friar, father of modern accounting, friend, counsellor, teacher & contributor to the century's incomparable genius, Leonardo da Vinci. The booklet is mesmerizing. It is a hand sketched draft of hundreds of complicated chess studies that Luca Pacioli must have been collecting over a long span of time. Now, perusing the booklet something catches your attention and the more you look at it the more it becomes evident. While the writing is Pacioli's, two hands instead had been there penning in the chess pieces, the first with scholarly diligence the second with artistic swiftness. Whose? Luca's and Leonardo's. They were friends, congregating and travelling together, they had a history of partnership Leonardo having illustrated Luca's DE DIVINA PROPORTIONE. It is clear: Luca was set to prepare another yet of his popularising textbooks and Leonardo had lent to his friend his "incomparable left hand" once again. Obviously the possible implication of Leonardo da Vinci in the drafting of the manuscript could not, not to be taken into consideration. And it was rejected. Rightly, at times like ours, adept to Dan Brown's like flights of fancy, doubt is a virtue and suspicion should be "de rigueur" which means that a lasting grudge must not be held to the "expert" who, possibly startled by the news, not having been warned or seen the manuscript, quipped, "the silly season on Leo never closes." In reality the discovery of Luca Pacioli's lost manuscript heralds, without doubt, that the "a la rabiosa" problems therein reported are of Leonardo's hand and we well know that Leonardo penned between 1487 and 1490 a rebus "I a roccha ro'" (I shall castle) confirming his perfect knowledge of the games new rules. These can be traced back to the coronation of queen Isabella of Spain in the year 1474 and to her crowning are dated the new powers attributed to the Bishop and the Queen whose status of most powerful piece on the chessboard justified the new rules nickname of "mad queen" or "a la rabiosa." Yet nothing is said at that time about castling, that important move absolutely necessary in modern chess to counterbalance the overpowering new status of the Queen. Nothing, from 1474 until Leonardo's rebus of 1487. Would it be its inventor Leonardo should then be considered, if such hypothetical case were true, not only the co-author as he is, of "DE LUDO SCACHORUM" and designer of the chess pieces therein drafted but, as well and rightfully, one among the major: FATHER OF MODERN CHESS. Time flies; while the excitement due to the discovery of Luca Pacioli's lost work is ineluctably subsiding, so the focus on this other of Leonardo's prodigious accomplishment is quietly worming its way into the cosy corners of expert knowledge and world oblivion. To avoid this fate this book, LEONARDO & LUCA PACIOLI - THE EVIDENCE, is set to confirm that the chess design is indeed the work of Leonardo. That two hands have been drawing the booklet's chess pieces and that, so great was his genius and so swift his incomparable left hand, that "the season on Leo still brings beautiful fruits." Supporting the evidence, you'll find, in appendix, a study of the Vitruvius Man showing its exacting geometrical structure, further to a deep reflection and elaboration of the principles Leonardo and Luca Pacioli outlined in DE DIVINA PROPORTIONE. In truth, the design of the Vitruvian Man, based on an extraordinary conception of the Golden Section, stands as a paradigm for the geometric structure and proportions of the DE LUDO SCHACORUM chessmen set. Wonder and enjoy

In this collection of nine essays some of the preeminent art historians in the United States consider the relationship between art and craft, between the creative idea and its realization, in Renaissance and Baroque Italy. The essays, all previously unpublished, are devoted to the pictorial arts and are accompanied by nearly 150 illustrations. Examining works by such artists as Michelangelo, Titian, Volterrano, Giovanni di Paolo, and Annibale Carracci (along with aspects of the artists' creative processes, work habits, and aesthetic convictions), the essayists explore the ways in which art was conceived and produced at a time when collaboration with pupils, assistants, or independent masters was an accepted part of the artistic process. The consensus of the contributors amounts to a revision, or at least a qualification, of Bernard Berenson's interpretation of the emergent Renaissance ideal of individual ""genius"" as a measure of original artistic achievement: we must accord greater influence to the collaborative, appropriative conventions and practices of the craft workshop, which persisted into and beyond the Renaissance from its origins in the Middle Ages. Consequently, we must acknowledge the sometimes rather ordinary beginnings of some of the world's great works of art--an admission, say the contributors, that will open new avenues of study and enhance our understanding of the complex connections between invention and execution. With one exception, these essays were delivered as lectures in conjunction with the exhibition The Artists and Artisans of Florence: Works from the Horne Museum hosted by the Georgia Museum of Art in the fall of 1992.

Rembrandt's Code - From the Attic of Civilization can best be described by quoting a reviewer: 5 out of 5 stars "Dr. Girsh has a wonderful grasp of the complex nuances of Rembrandt's works, tying together Biblical references to other important figures in history. He shines light on hidden concepts that eludes even the most analytical of readers. A strong theme of "the origin of thought" branching into many subjects: languages, human thinking and behavior. Truly a masterpiece " The book also serves as a guide to the paintings in exhibition form enabling readers to enjoy the reproductions of great masterpieces of European art on Biblical themes, from Genesis to Deuteronomy. These are artistic interpretations of scenes in Genesis: Creation, Noah and the Flood, Abraham and the Binding of Isaac, Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph. Rembrandt, Poussin, Rubens and West are but a few of the prominent artists represented in Rembrandt's Code - From the Attic of Civilization. For example, Rembrandt's masterpiece, "Isaac and Rebecca," sensitively depicts the love that Isaac had for his wife, Rebecca. The Biblical scenes are depicted by these classical artists whose art is part of our cultural evolution. Rembrandt's Code - From the Attic of Civilization has been honored by being sold at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Scotland. This book has been presented in exhibition format throughout the country and has been very well received. To quote a visitor present at an exhibition, "We were treated to a 'feast for our eyes' with some of the greatest Biblical art ever produced."

During Pope Sixtus V's reign at the end of the Roman Cinquecento (1585-1590), counter-reformed Rome underwent a significant transformation of its liturgy and of the way in which its religious monuments were approached by the faithful. The changes implemented by the pope affected the decoration of monuments on the various estates over which the Vatican has historically held dominion.

"Renovatio Christiana" is a scholarly study detailing the many building projects Pope Sixtus V carried out in order to provide clergy, residents, and pilgrims better access to Rome's main basilicas and churches, as well as to grant the clergy new processional pathways across the major churches. It also emphasizes the relationship between patron and artists, showing how Pope Sixtus V reshaped the Holy Steps, for instance, from a private chapel exclusively for papal use to a stand-alone building open to anyone seeking penance.

A highly academic and original text, "Renovatio Christiana" is a thoroughly informative and insightful must-read for anyone looking for a more detailed history and understanding of Rome's art during the late Italian Renaissance period.

When we think of the Last Supper and art, we often think immediately of Leonardo da Vinci. But the Last Supper has actually been the subject of paintings by artists for many centuries. Here is a collection of more than three dozen versions of the Last Supper - many by well-known artists (such as Peter Paul Rubens and, of course, Leonardo da Vinci), and many by lesser-known artists. As with the other books in the "Enjoying Great Art" series, this book is a pictorial journey for adults and students of all ages. Words are kept to a minimum - with an introduction to the book, and then artists and dates for each painting. For more details on Leonardo's famous version, you may also be interested in Catherine's "Exploring Da Vinci's Last Supper."

This small book was originally designed to help students slow down and enjoy a specific exhibit about the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. But it has been redone to be useful for students anywhere - students who have access to websites or books about Leonardo da Vinci. It includes a scavenger hunt that gives a good overview of Leonardo da Vinci as artist, architect, inventor, mathematician and more Then there are several other hunts that delve into some of those other "job titles" that Leonardo held during his very busy 67-year life. Happy Hunting

Lorenzo de' Medici: The embodiment of Florence's most powerful family, a brutal man who ruled the city with an iron fist, whilst protecting it from the shifting mire of Italian politics. Fra Girolamo Savonarola: An unprepossessing provincial monk whose sermons, filled with Old Testament fury, resonated with the disenfranchised population of the city. The battle between these two men would be a fight to the death, a series of sensational events - including a mighty foreign invasion, trial by fire, the 'Bonfire of the Vanities', terrible executions and mysterious deaths - featuring a cast of the most important and charismatic Renaissance figures.

Mr. Lopez reinterprets the civilization of the High Renaissance in Italy as a dramatic succession of three ages: Youth, 1454-1494; Maturity, 1494-1527; Decline, 1527-1559. In the first period, political and economic stabilization brings forth a mood of confident expectation which expresses itself in literature, art, and philosophy, all reaching for a goal of "self-centered aesthetic harmony." In the second period, a series of foreign invasions shatters the political and economic well-being of the Indian elite but does not slow down the artistic and literary drive. Whether in hope or in sorrow, in response to shock or in escape from reality, the Renaissance attains its glorious climax. The third period is torn between conflicting tendencies. The political battle is lost but there is a second economic revival; art and literature give out despondent notes but successfully explore new channels; philosophic permissiveness comes to an end but scientific reserach comes into its own. Mr. Lopez's tripartition of an age which is usually described as a single sweep adds depth to the definition of the Italian Renaissance. It is enhanced by his fresh translations of Renaissance poems and by twenty-four illustrations which pick out from the incomparable wealth of Renaissance art a few historically significant works. All the famous names are there, from Lorenzo de'Medici to Ariosto, Machiavelli, and Cardano, from Botticelli to Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Palladio; but one also meets a large number of minor figures and anonymous people in the street. America is discovered; new diseases appear; anti-Semitism reawakens; religious unity is destroyed - these and other events form the backdrop. The sparkling narration is thoroughly grounded in contemporary sources.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1900 Edition.

Another book in the "Enjoying Great Art" series: Horses are a part of our everyday life. But do we think of them when we think of great art? Here is a picture book for students of all ages...A picture book of horses in art Different colors, shapes, sizes...Some that are only small parts of the painting, some which are the focus of the painting.

Architecture is a part of our everyday life. But do we think of it when we think of great art? Here is a picture book for adults and students of all ages...A picture book of architecture in art Different colors, shapes, sizes...Some where the buildings are only a small part of the painting, some where they are the focus of the painting...Some where the exteriors of the buildings are the focus, a few where it is the interior that is the important portion. As with the other books in this series, the paintings in this book have been selected to be family-friendly (though the same cannot be said by all of the other paintings of some of these artists).

Part of the "Enjoying Great Art" series by Catherine Jaime and Deirdre Fuller: Lighthouses may or may not be a part of your everyday life, depending on whether we live near a coast, or spend much time visiting in the area. But, either way, do we think of lighthouses when we think of great art? Here is a picture book for students of all ages...A picture book of lighthouses in art Different colors, shapes, sizes...Some that are only small parts of the painting, some which are the focus of the painting.

Maps and globes have been a big part of our everyday life, at least in the past. But do we think of them when we think of great art? Here is a picture book for adults and students of all ages...A picture book of maps and globes in art In some of the paintings the globes or maps are props, in some they are wall decorations. In some they are only small parts of the painting, and in some they are more the focus of the painting. Note to parents: All of the paintings selected for the books in this series are child-friendly - but we aren't necessarily recommending all of the other paintings by these same artists If you and your children want to go exploring after this - please exercise caution.

The newest book in the "Enjoying Great Art" Series: Great art comes in many sizes and shapes, in many colors and styles. It can also be about many different themes - real and imaginary. Other books in the series have included art arranged around many topics - including bridges, hats, and animals, to name just a few. But this book arranges the art around a geographical theme - the fifty different states of the United States. Here each state is presented through one or more pictures. They represent some combination of the landscape, flower, and/or animal of each state. Some are historical in nature, though many are of a more time-less style. Note to parents: All of the paintings selected for the books in this series are child-friendly - but we aren't necessarily recommending all of the other paintings by these

Please enjoy the latest book in the "Enjoying Great Art" series. This one includes paintings that span over five centuries and several continents. Many are portraits of individuals, some include multiple people. Some are "posed," but others show the subjects engaged in a variety of activities. All include people of African descent. As you look through the paintings, notice the similarities and the differences between them...Do you like certain artists or styles more than others? Are there some you are familiar with and others that are destined to become new friends? But, most of all, enjoy