The authority of images
Subtitle: storytelling in Early Renaissance Christian art
By: Jules Lubbock.
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2006
Place of publication: New Haven
Language: eng
Number of pages: 353
Subjects: Bible -- Illustrations.; Narrative art, Renaissance -- Italy.; Art, Early Renaissance -- Italy.; Christian art and symbolism -- Italy -- Medieval, 500-1500.
Other titles: Storytelling in Early Renaissance Christian art
Description: "Recounting the biblical stories through visual images was the most prestigious form of commission for a Renaissance artist. In this book, Jules Lubbock examines some of the most famous of these pictorial narratives by artists of the caliber of Giovanni Pisano, Duccio, Giotto, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio. He explains how these artists portrayed the major biblical events, such as: the Sacrifice of Isaac, the Annunciation, the Feast of Herod and the Trial and Passion of Jesus, so as to be easily recognizable and, at the same time, to capture our attention and imagination for long enough to enable us to search for deeper meanings. He provides evidence showing that the Church favoured the production of images that lent themselves to being read and interpreted in this way, and he describes the works themselves to demonstrate how the pleasurable activity of deciphering these meanings can work in practice." "This book is richly illustrated, and many of its photographs have been specially taken to show how the paintings and relief sculptures appear in the settings, for which they were originally designed. Seen from these viewpoints, they become more readily intelligible. Likewise, the starting point and the originality of Lubbock's interpretations lies in his accepting that these works of art were primarily designed to help people to reflect upon the ethical and religious significance of the biblical stories. The early Renaissance artists developed their highly innovative techniques to further these objectives, not as ends in themselves. Thus, the book aims to appeal to students, scholars and the general public, who are interested in Renaissance art and to those with a religious interest in biblical imagery."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction storytelling and Christian art; title: Pt. 1. 1298-1311; title: Divine and earthly justice in Duccio's maesta; title: Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel; title: Giovanni Pisano's Pistoia Pulpit; title: The correct law: Giovanni Pisano's Pisa pulpit; title: Pt. 2. 1401-1465; title: The second baptistery doors: Ghiberti and Brunelleschi; title: Donatello's head of St. John being brought to the king's table; title: Masaccio's Brancacci chapel; title: Ghiberti's Gates of paradise; title: Donatello's pulpits in San Lorenzo; title: Conclusion visible speech; title: Appendix.