The Gualenghi d'Este Hours: Art and Devotion in Renaissance Ferrara (Monographs on Illuminated Manuscripts)
Barstow!s ten years of thorough research is evident from the first pages of this focused book, published to coincide with the current exhibition of this key piece in the manuscript collection at the Getty. The Gualenghi-d!Este Hours was created in 1469 for the marriage of Andrea Gualengo and Orsina d!Este, a member of Ferrara!s ruling family; the primary artist for the project was Taddeo Crivelli, who created a delightful blend of plasticism and line that reflected Ferrara!s style. Perspective mirrors human consciousness and creates a space for communion with the divine in a very over-the-top fashion. With an incredibly careful eye, Barstow, assistant curator of manuscripts at the Getty Museum, teases out Crivelli!s influences, most notably the work of Pisanello. He also puts the work in situ with discussion of various religious groups in Ferrara at the time, explanation of the devotional context of miniatures, and talk of increasing subjectivity in Renaissance art. Each illumination is reproduced at full size, and some of the text is reprinted with commentary. A definitive book, good for purchase by libraries specializing in art history or where there is interest."Nadine Dalton Speidel, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OHCopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.