Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 03 (of 10) / Filarete and Simone to Mantegna

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26860

Title

Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 03 (of 10) / Filarete and Simone to Mantegna

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Giorgio Vasari's Volume III chronicles the lives of Renaissance masters from Filarete to Mantegna, blending biographical narrative with technical analysis of painting, sculpture, and architecture. This 1912 translation offers rich historical insight into the artistic evolution of Florence and beyond, highlighting the interplay between theory and practice.

Summary up to 500 words

Giorgio Vasari's *Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects*, Volume III, offers a comprehensive survey of Italian Renaissance art, tracing the evolution of the craft from the early 15th century through the works of Andrea Mantegna. The volume opens with the bronze doors of St. Peter's, detailing the contributions of Antonio Filarete and Simone, who, despite the neglect of Pope Eugenius IV, toiled for twelve years to complete the work. Vasari notes Filarete's ambitious, though flawed, theoretical writings on architecture and city planning. The narrative then shifts to Simone, celebrated for his innovative painting of Night, where an angel illuminates a sleeping Constantine, demonstrating a mastery of anatomy and perspective that Vasari deems supreme for his time. Piero della Francesca follows as a figure who mastered geometry and Euclidean curves, applying rigorous mathematical principles to his frescoes and panels. Vasari highlights his ability to render complex perspectives and his profound influence on disciples like Luca Signorelli. The text also honors Fra Giovanni da Fiesole (Fra Angelico), praising his devout artistry and exquisite manuscript illuminations, which Vasari describes as possessing a grace beyond words. Leon Battista Alberti is presented as a pivotal intellectual force; Vasari argues that learning and theory elevate craftsmanship, a philosophy embodied by Alberti's revolutionary treatises on architecture and perspective and his practical restorations in Rome and Rimini. The volume further examines the achievements of Antonello da Messina, Fra Filippo Lippi, and the Pollaiuolo brothers, noting their command of anatomy and composition. A significant portion is dedicated to Sandro Botticelli, whose mythological and religious works, such as *The Adoration of the Magi* and *The Calumny of Apelles*, exemplify the era's aesthetic ideals. The biography concludes with Andrea Mantegna, celebrating his dynamic compositions and historical paintings. Throughout, Vasari emphasizes the importance of study and theory in elevating art, documenting the personal struggles and triumphs of these geniuses who defined the Renaissance.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Art