Domenico Ghirlandaio - An Elite Artisan and His World

An accessible life of the fifteenth-century painter and instructor of Michelangelo.

Domenico Ghirlandaio (1448-94) was a master of Renaissance art, celebrated for his vivid frescoes and detailed portraits. Teacher to Michelangelo and admired by Lorenzo de' Medici, Ghirlandaio's work reflects the vibrant artistic culture of fifteenth-century Florence. This book examines Ghirlandaio's career in the context of the craft traditions, guilds, and workshops that shaped his art. It also analyses his famous works, such as the Santa Maria Novella frescoes and the portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni, revealing the creative and technical processes behind them. By uncovering the social and cultural influences on Ghirlandaio's art--including family ties and religious affiliations--the book offers a rich portrait of an artist whose work continues to inspire today.

About the author

Jean K. Cadogan is Professor of Fine Arts at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. She has published widely on Renaissance Florentine art, and her books include Domenico Ghirlandaio: Artist and Artisan (2000).

Product details

• Authors: Cadogan Jean K., Jean K Cadogan
• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 01.11.2025
• EAN: 9781836391203
• ISBN: 978-1-83639-120-3
• No. of pages: 256
• Weight: 454 g
• Illustrations: 75 illustrations, 65 in colour
• Series: Renaissance Lives
• Subjects: Europe, ART / European, ART / Individual Artists / Monographs, History of Art, Renaissance art, Individual artists, art monographs, Renaissance style, ART / History / European / Renaissance