Largely neglected for the four centuries after his death, the
fifteenth century Italian artist Piero della Francesca is now seen
to embody the fullest expression of the Renaissance perspective
painter, raising him to an artistic stature comparable with that of
Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. But who was Piero, and how did
he become the person and artist that he was? Until now, in spite of
the great interest in his work, these questions have remained
largely unanswered. Piero della Francesca: Artist and Man puts that
situation right, integrating the story of Piero's artistic and
mathematical achievements with the full chronicle of his life for
the first time. Fortified by the discovery of over one hundred
previously unknown documents, most unearthed by the author himself,
James R. Banker at last brings this fascinating Renaissance enigma
to life. The book presents us with Piero's friends, family, and
collaborators, all set against the social background of the various
cities and courts in which he lived - from the Tuscan commune of
Sansepolcro in which he grew up, to Renaissance Florence, Ferrara,
Ancona, Rimini, Rome, Arezzo, and Urbino, and eventually back to
his home town for the final years of his life. As Banker shows, the
cultural contexts in which Piero lived are crucial for
understanding both the man and his paintings. From early
masterpieces such as the Baptism of Christ through to later,
Flemish-influenced works such as the Nativity, we gain a
fascinating insight into how Piero's art developed over time,
alongside his growing achievements in geometry in the later decades
of his life. Along the way, the book addresses some persistent
myths about this apparently most elusive of artists. As well as
establishing a convincing case to clear up the long controversy
over the year of Piero's birth, there are also answers to some big
questions about the date of some of his major works, and a
persuasive new interpretation of the much-debated Flagellation of
Christ. This book is for all those who wish to know about the
development of Piero as man, artist, and scholar, rather than
simply to see him through a series of isolated great works. What
emerges is a thoroughly intriguing Renaissance individual, firmly
embedded in his social milieu, but forging an historic identity
through his profound artistic and mathematical achievements.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
