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The Renaissance Cities: Art in Florence, Rome and Venice
A luxurious and definitive exploration of how and why the Renaissance flourished in Italy for two centuries.
The idea of “renaissance,” or rebirth, arose in Italy as a way of reviving the art, science, and scholarship of the Classical era. It was also powered by a quest to document artistic “reality” according to newly discovered scientific and mathematical principles. By the late 15th century, Italy had become the recognized European leader in the fields of painting, architecture, and sculpture. But why was Florence the center of this burgeoning creativity, and how did it spread to other Italian cities? Brimming with vivid reproductions of works by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, and others, this book showcases the creative achievements that traveled from Florence to Rome to Venice. Art historian Norbert Wolf explores the influence of secular and religious patronage on artistic development; how the urban structure and way of life allowed for such a rich exchange of ideas; and how ideas of humanism informed artists reaching toward the future while clinging to the ideals of the past. Insightful, accessible, and fascinating, this thoroughly researched book highlights the connections and mutual influences of Florence, Rome, and Venice as well as their intriguing rivalries and interdependencies.
The idea of “renaissance,” or rebirth, arose in Italy as a way of reviving the art, science, and scholarship of the Classical era. It was also powered by a quest to document artistic “reality” according to newly discovered scientific and mathematical principles. By the late 15th century, Italy had become the recognized European leader in the fields of painting, architecture, and sculpture. But why was Florence the center of this burgeoning creativity, and how did it spread to other Italian cities? Brimming with vivid reproductions of works by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, and others, this book showcases the creative achievements that traveled from Florence to Rome to Venice. Art historian Norbert Wolf explores the influence of secular and religious patronage on artistic development; how the urban structure and way of life allowed for such a rich exchange of ideas; and how ideas of humanism informed artists reaching toward the future while clinging to the ideals of the past. Insightful, accessible, and fascinating, this thoroughly researched book highlights the connections and mutual influences of Florence, Rome, and Venice as well as their intriguing rivalries and interdependencies.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 5, 2021
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About the author
Norbert Wolf
103 books10 followersNorbert Wolf is an art historian and author based in Munich. He has published several books with Prestel, including "Art Nouveau", "Art Deco", "Impressionism", "Spanish Painting", and "The Golden Age of Dutch and Flemish Painting", as well as monographs on Albrecht Dürer and Titian.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 17, 2024
Since being gifted this big beautiful book last year, I’ve used it to learn about the major works I’d see on last year’s trip to Italy, and to help me better understand the history of beloved Florence.
Its organization by city was suited to my initial purpose, but for learning about the art, there’s much back & forth to do. That’s ok-
the physical structure of the book is such a luxury that turning pages feels adventuresome.
The text is hard on the eyes, but the reproductions are marvelous, and (at least based on the few I saw in real life), very faithful. In some cases, digital enhancement of color and contrast made it easier to see detail in the book than in the dark corners of churches. The index, however, is almost useless.
I’ve been studying with a friend, and as we used the book tonight in a guided discussion, I realized how much of it I’ve come to know. Definitely time to call it “Read.”
Its organization by city was suited to my initial purpose, but for learning about the art, there’s much back & forth to do. That’s ok-
the physical structure of the book is such a luxury that turning pages feels adventuresome.
The text is hard on the eyes, but the reproductions are marvelous, and (at least based on the few I saw in real life), very faithful. In some cases, digital enhancement of color and contrast made it easier to see detail in the book than in the dark corners of churches. The index, however, is almost useless.
I’ve been studying with a friend, and as we used the book tonight in a guided discussion, I realized how much of it I’ve come to know. Definitely time to call it “Read.”
August 12, 2023
This is a book about proportion, of body to world, of city to individual and within the arts. The focus on Florence, Rome and Venice illuminates the Renaissance and its causes in new and fascinating ways. Wolf also has interesting things to say on the proportional combination of reason and unreason in the art of the time - for example how the vanishing point in 'The Last Supper' emphasises both the corporal and the transcendent. The hardback is a beautiful object in its own right, beautifully illustrated and contained within its own slip case.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews