Kunst en architectuur Venetië

Art & Architecture

by Marion Kaminski

Voor de kunstlievende bezoeker van Venetie een onmisbaar boek, en ook de thuisblijver zal het genoegen doen. Na een inleiding betreffende ligging, geschiedenis en vroeger politiek systeem van de kunststad worden per stadsdeel de prachtige paleizen, kerken en broederschapshuizen met hun indrukwekkende architectuur en aankleding beschreven. De grootste kunstenaars hebben er gewerkt; van de schilders bijv. de broers Bellini, Giorgione, Lotto, Tiziaan, Tintoretto, Canaletto, Longhi. Hun schilderijen sieren nog de monumentale gebouwen. Vele zijn hier fraai afgebeeld, zoals trouwens ook de gebouwen en andere items, en altijd in kleur; hun aantal is groter dan het aantal pagina's. Plattegronden en aanwijzingen helpen de toerist. Moderne kunst komt aan bod met de Collectie Peggy Guggenheim. Ook aan bijzondere aspecten als de commedia dell'arte, muziek (Monteverdi, Vivaldi) en iemand als Casanova wordt aandacht besteed. Het boek sluit met een glossarium van veel gebruikte termen op religieus en kunstgebied, een tijdtabel, korte kunstenaarsbiografieen, verklaringen van bouwtermen, literatuurlijst en register. Op de binnenkanten van de omslagen een plattegrond van de stad en een oude kaart van Venetie.

Genres: Art, Architecture, Travel, Italy, Nonfiction, Reference, Art History

578 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Patrick\ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though a Barnes & Noble book, this is a useful book for you if visiting Venice - help you find your way around visually; and a definite must have book if moving there (probably even for those who have lived there for a few decades). The canals still stink, though not as badly as in the past; and, yes, many of the wood-piled foundations are sinking.

[SlowRain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a succinct little book. Physically, it's a bit thick, but it's not tall at all. What it does is take (what I assume is) a large majority of Venice's most important buildings and give a 2- or 3-paragraph write-up on them. It's loaded with pictures, but you can also go to the internet to research more regarding their history or their interior and exterior architecture.

It also does something similar with Venice's art, but that's of lesser interest to me. I actually started to skip the write-ups on the art at about the halfway point.

I can't recommend this book highly enough as a companion to any beginner's reading about Venice. It's an absolutely great jumping-off point for Venetian architecture for amateurs.

[Caconym · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely guide for those looking for good guide for Venice.

If you wish to find out more about the rich architectural and artistic heritage of Venice this is the definitive book to read before your visit. I guarantee you will get more out of your visit after having read through Kaminski's descriptions and anecdotes. (This may not apply to art historians, or those already deeply versed into Venetian architecture and history, but for the rest of us it is very educational.)

Recommended.

[Karellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

This is pure indulgence on my part but I make no excuses. At last a book that nobody else has rated or reviewed. Probably because it's non fiction.
This book is recommended for those who want to immerse themselves in the art and architecture of the doomed city. At almost 600 pages its not a casual overview for the day tripper.
Until I started to read this I hadn't realised just how much there was beyond the obvious sights like Rialto or San Marco. The photography herein is enough in itself but is embellished by in depth descriptions of each palazzo Chiesa or campo. The publisher Ullmann has created a series of these lush books each concentrating on an important cultural city or museum : Florence Egypt Louvre Orsay Berlin Tuscany
Perfect preparation for my return to La Serenissima.

[Schmacko · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pretty, detailed picture book.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning photographs and text that brought Venice to life.