The Italian Renaissance altarpiece : between icon and narrative /
Ekserdjian, David,author.
The altarpiece is one of the most distinctive and remarkable art forms of the Renaissance period. It is difficult to imagine an artist of the time - whether painter or sculptor, major or minor - who did not produce at least one. Though many have been displaced or dismembered, a substantial proportion of these works still survive. Despite the volume of material available, no serious attempt has ever been made to examine the whole subject in depth until now. 'The Italian Renaissance altarpiece' is the first comprehensive study of the genre to examine its content and subject matter in real detail, from the origins of the altarpiece in the 13th century to the time of Caravaggio in the early 1600s. It discusses major developments in the history of these objects throughout Italy, covers the three key categories of Renaissance altarpiece - 'immagini' (icons), 'historie' (narratives), and 'misteri' (mysteries) - and is illustrated with 250 beautiful reproductions of the artworks.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 465-482) and index.
Introduction: reading the altarpiece -- Patrons, artists, and contracts -- The Virgin and Child and the Saints -- Narrative altarpieces: the Virgin and Christ -- Narrative altarpieces: the Saints -- Mysteries -- Narrative and the Predella -- Frames, sculpture, and the altarpiece -- The Council of Trent and after -- Appendix 1. Narrative representations of Saints in Italian altarpieces before 1610 -- Appendix 2. Excerpt from the Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, 25th session, 3-4 December 1563.
The altarpiece is one of the most distinctive and remarkable art forms of the Renaissance period. It is difficult to imagine an artist of the time - whether painter or sculptor, major or minor - who did not produce at least one. Though many have been displaced or dismembered, a substantial proportion of these works still survive. Despite the volume of material available, no serious attempt has ever been made to examine the whole subject in depth until now. 'The Italian Renaissance altarpiece' is the first comprehensive study of the genre to examine its content and subject matter in real detail, from the origins of the altarpiece in the 13th century to the time of Caravaggio in the early 1600s. It discusses major developments in the history of these objects throughout Italy, covers the three key categories of Renaissance altarpiece - 'immagini' (icons), 'historie' (narratives), and 'misteri' (mysteries) - and is illustrated with 250 beautiful reproductions of the artworks.
Christian art and symbolism
Christian art and symbolism
Altarpieces, Renaissance
Altarpieces, Italian
Altarpieces, Italian