In the Name of the Son: The Life of Jesus in Art, from the Nativity to the Passion

by Vittorio Sgarbi, Alastair McEwen (Translator)

How artists from Giotto to Caravaggio have written a visual biography of Christ through the finest masterpieces in the history of art. In the Name of the Son approaches figurative art through the lens of the greatest mystery of mankind: the life of Jesus Christ. From the late medieval period through the Renaissance and the Baroque era, the task of conferring an image onto Christ--whose physical aspect was never described in Scripture--fell to artists, who depicted him at every stage of life and in a multitude of roles. In the 350 images in this lavishly illustrated volume, Vittorio Sgarbi considers the variety and power of these portrayals: depictions of joy, suffering, anger, surprise, unmistakable judgment, mercy, weakness, gentleness, friendship, and even whimsy. The result moves beyond art to explore how it was the image of the Son, and not the Father, that amplified the words of Scripture and inspired levels of devotion that have been unmatched in human history.

Genres: Art

464 pages, Hardcover

First published November 20, 2012

About the author

Vittorio Umberto Antonio Maria Sgarbi (born 8 May 1952 in Ferrara) is an Italian art critic, art historian, politician, cultural commentator and television personality known for his excess and chaotic attitude. He was appointed curator of the Italian Pavilion at the 2011 Venice Biennale. Several times a member of the Italian Parliament, he changed numerous times political factions from the Monarchist Union to Communist Party, Centrists, Right-Wing parties, Socialist, Liberals, the Italian Radicals to several parties founded by himself, He served also in Milan's municipal government. In 2012, he was removed as Mayor of Salemi by the Ministry of Interior because of Mafia interferences in the village.

Reviews

[Arybo ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Livello base di storia dell’arte, con qualche frecciatina sgarbiana a proposito di artisti misconosciuti.

[Italo Perazzoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is so rich thank to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Without Mary there was not his son nor the "Annunciation" of Antonello da Messina, Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Bellomo, Siracusa.

In this painting the face of Mary is full of joy, she will be the mother of Jesus and she is conscious of this responsibility toward the humans until the sun will explode.

The nativity is painted by Salvoldo and his "Adoration of The Shepherds" (Pinacoteca Tosi - Martinengo Brescia) and their admirations for the babe.

The life of the babe is not simple, if we think about the the flight into Egypt (Carpaccio - National Gallery Washington DC) and Giotto's The Flight Into Egypt (Scrovegni Chapel)

The Resurrection the centrality of the christianity, I am thinking about the Resurrection of Piero Della Francesca (Pinacoteca Comunale di Sansepolcro) and the power, determination and his infinite humanity.

The indescribable pain of a mother, carved into the marble (Pietà of Michelangelo St Peter - Rome) and "The Lamentation over the Dead Christ" of Mantegna (Pinacoteca Brera Milano) the flagellation of Christ (Christ At The Column - A.Messina - Louvre Paris) where we live his suffering for save the humanity.

In the past present and future our world will be unfair but one day everyone will pay for the behaviour, we will be judged by Christ, Christ Judge & Mary (Sistine Chapel - Rome)

In conclusion this is a wonderful resource if we want to "read properly" a painting or a sculpture, we will understand that art is art and it must be immune of speculations like their inner messages is offensive or not, this is a question of sensibilities and ethics.

[Liz Clappin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually bought this book as a gift for someone else and browsed through several of the essays. More a collection than one cohesive work, I read the English translation. Some of the essays are better translations than others, I think this has to do with the language of origin. If I had the opportunity I would really enjoy sitting down and reading it cover to cover, regardless however the illustrations are just exquisite and the overall concept is fascinating.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Vittorio Sgarbi's work in an English translation by Alastair McEwen, entitled "In the Name of the Son" ... lush color plates illustrate Sgarbi's exploration of portrayals of Jesus in, primarily, Italian art of the 15th to the 17th centuries ... beginning with Piero della Francesca's "Resurrection" and ending with Gino Severini's "Maternity", Sgarbi delves deeply into the rationale behind these works of art and the methods the artists use to express themselves ...