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"A comprehensive and richly illustrated survey of Venetian Renaissance architecture, sculpture, and painting created between 1400 and 1600 addressed to students, travellers, and the general public. The works of art are analysed within Venice's cultural circumstances--political, economic, intellectual, and religious--and in terms of function, style, iconography, patronage, classical sources, gender, art theories, and artist's innovations, rivalries, and social status. The text has been divided into two parts--the fifteenth century and the sixteenth century--each part preceded by an introduction that recounts the history of Venice to 1500 and to 1600 respectively, including the city's founding, ideology, territorial expansion, social classes, governmental structure, economy, and religion. The twenty-six chapters have been organized to lead readers systematically through the major artistic developments within the three principal categories of art--governmental, ecclesiastic, and domestic--and have been arranged sequentially as follows: civic architecture and urbanism, churches, church decoration (ducal tombs and altarpieces), refectories and refectory decoration (section two only), confraternities (architecture and decoration), palaces, palace decoration (devotional works, portraits, secular painting, and halls of state), villas, and villa decoration. The conclusion offers an overview of the major types of Venetian art and architectural patronage and their funding sources"--Provided by publisher.
Summary
Chronicling the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and journeying from the Piazza San Marco to the villas of the Veneto, this vivid and authoritative survey of architecture, sculpture, and painting offers a rich perspective on the history and artistic achievements of Renaissance Venice. Distinguished scholar Loren Partridge examines the masterpieces of Venice’s urban design, civic buildings, churches, and palaces within their distinctive cultural and geographic milieus, exploring issues of function, style, iconography, patronage, and gender. Readers will also discover fascinating in-depth analyses of major works of such artists as Giovanni Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Palladio, Tintoretto, Titian, and Veronese. Designed to appeal to students and travelers alike, this essential guide to the art and architecture of Renaissance Venice brings La Serenissima to life as never before.
Report
Like his surveys of Renaissance art in Rome and Florence, Loren Partridges new book on Venice is an unmatched landmark achievement: comprehensive, authoritative, beautifully illustrated, indispensable for anyone seriously interested in the art, architecture, and culture of Renaissance Venice. - Randolph Starn, Professor of History and Italian Studies, University of California, Berkeley
