Book Description

This book gives the necessary background for the study and appreciation of Italian painting and sculpture from about 1250 to 1550. It tells how the artists learned their craft, the organization of their workshops, and the guilds they belonged to; how their customers or patrons treated them and where their work was displayed-churches, civic buildings, or private homes. The book discusses how art was made-tempera, oil, panel, canvas, fresco; it surveys the characteristic types of Renaissance art-altarpieces, portraits, tombs, busts, doors fountains, medals, etc. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

interesting collection of essays
Over the last 30 years there seems to be a greater interest on the part of art historians in the nuts and bolts issues of how art is created. The works of E.H. Gombrich come to mind, or "The Academy and French Painting in the Nineteenth Century", by Albert Boime. This rather disconnected set of essays by Cole examines the material issues facing the Renaissance artist.

What did paintings cost? How was the artist valued? What expectations surrounded the conception and construction of the work of art? How did the original setting differ from our encounter with these works today? These are some of the questions addressed here. This is not a coffee table book, and the illustrations are low quality black and white (at least in the paper back edition).

Like the other book by Cole that I have read, "Titian and Venetian Painting, 1450-1590", I wish this book was twice as long. Many of the questions touched on here are only given a brief answer, but the information that is here is fascinating. I am not an Art Historian, so I can only guess at the authors reputation (now head of the NEA). My sense is that he is one of those historians with a breadth of knowledge that is quite rare in these days of specialization, and that his viewpoint shows a high degree of originality. My only complaint (aside from the 100 or so color illustrations that could have provided more details) is that the writing style is not as graceful as some of the masters of this genre. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Just as the Italian peninsula itself was a patchwork of widely divergent city-states up until the 19th-century risorgimento, so the art and artists of the Italian Renaissance differed according to the regions in which they flourished. If Florence is the city most often associated with Renaissance art, Venice runs a close second; and of all the artists associated with the Venetian style, Titian is arguably the greatest. In Titian's Women, art historian Rona Goffen examines the role of women in the great man's work. Whether painting a bride or a goddess, Titian brought a degree of respect and empathy to his portraits; though his models may have been prostitutes, Goffen argues, the finished subjects were indisputably ladies. Combining art history with a remarkable command of the period's social history, Goffen crafts a fascinating discussion of Titian's work, his times, and his particular genius. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The utmost beauty.
In appreciation of beauty, perhaps the only difference between a layperson and an artist is that the latter can see and openly render that beauty. Unfortunately, sometimes "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Beautiful paintings of women by this ingenius artist has been considered (by some) in the same class with eroticism, or even pornography.
Titian is noted for his radiant and sensual rendering of human flesh. The effects are achieved by painstaking efforts in glazing, scumbling, and manipulation of colors. As a lady's man himself, Titian "loves every woman he meets" (although he reportedly was heartbroken at his wife's death), recognizes their beauty (after all, beauty is indifferent to social bias in this artist's eye), and expresses maverlously their charm in his paintings.
The readers will get it all in this book and if social convention has a problem mistaking artistic appreciation with mundane eroticism, then so what is new? ... Read more

Book Description

Few individuals have had a greater influence on the development of Western painting than the celebrated sixteenth-century Venetian artist Titian (c. 1480–1576). His vibrant colors and masterful brushwork have made his work a constant inspiration to artists, from Rubens to the Impressionists and beyond. Every generation has found something new to admire in his astonishing technique, which enabled him to produce fresh interpretations of the most familiar religious and mythological stories as well as portraits and landscapes. Written by some of the world’s most renowned Titian scholars, this beautifully illustrated book accompanies a major exhibition devoted to the work of this extraordinary artist. Authoritative essays on Titian’s life and times, portraits, replicas, and technique provide the background for a detailed examination of over 40 of his greatest masterpieces—works that provide evidence of Titian’s genius as a stylistic innovator and supreme manipulator of paint. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

superb intro to titian
for its size, this is probably the best overview of titian available in english. the color reproductions are beautifully done, the sampling of titian's works is comprehensive yet compact. the historical essays on the epochs of titian's output and the commentaries to each painting are well written and highly informative. a few major works, such as the venus d'urbino, are reproduced in smaller format and discussed only in passing, as they could not be included in the exhibition. even so, only rona geffen's study of titian's women goes farther and deeper into titian's originality, humanity and genius. highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

In the quarter century since the last catalogue raisonné of Titian, more research has been carried out on the painter than in the whole of the previous four hundred years. New documentation has come to light, pictures have been cleaned and major exhibitions have allowed for scrupulous comparisons to be made. As a result, Titian's whole oeuvre has been reassessed, many old questions of attribution settled-- and a few new ones raised.

Titian's place as one of the giants of Western culture has never been in doubt. He represents the culmination of the Venetian school, evolving a technique of free, spontaneous brushwork and a rendering of form through color that amazed his contemporaries and is now seen by some as foreshadowing Impressionism. In a long life of nearly ninety years he painted hundreds of canvases, ranging from moving and intense religious images, through penetratingly psychological portraits (including Charles V and Philip II of Spain) to sensuously erotic mythological scenes like Bacchus and Ariadne and the Venus of Urbino. Over 250 paintings are now attributed to him. All are illustrated here with detailed commentaries giving the circumstances of their commission, their subsequent history and stylistic analysis. Also included is an exhaustive bibliography. The fruit of many years' research, Titian is a monument of scholarship that will remain definitive for the foreseeable future.
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Reviews (3)

Nice book - shame so many pictures are so small.
This is a comprehensive survey of the entirety of Titian's ouput, the best available, as far as I am aware. The reason for 3 stars and not 5 is because of the small size of many of the reproductions. I will never understand why publishers produce books of this large size and then fill them predominantly with images that take up only about an eighth of the page. Whatever the reasons for this - printing costs, rights, photographic file sizes - or just the need to cram everything in for a catalogue raisonne - it's still annoying to have on you lap a book of this size (13x11ins) and be looking at pictures of only 3x4ins. It is, after all, the images by Titian which are of most interest, not the accompanying text.

Nevertheless, there are still a few paintings shown at reasonable size and which use the scale of the book, as well as 30 or so full page details, so I would say it is still worthwhile.

Represents the zenith of the Venetian school
Titian represents the zenith of the Venetian school and is a universally acclaimed "Old Master" who painted more than 250 canvases during his extraordinary lifetime. From moving and intense religious images, through penetratingly psychological portraits, to sensuously..presentations of the human form, Titian is a proven master of the brush and his superb use of color, form and dimension became benchmarks for the generations of artists who have studied him. Filippo Pedrocco's informative text provides a concise art history of Titian's life and work, while the wealth of full-color reproductions of Titan's paintings are flawless and completely document the scope and dimensions of this master painter. Filippo Pedrocco's Titian is a very highly recommended contribution to personal and professional art history collections, and would make an ideal "Memorial Gift" acquisition for academic and community libraries.

It's a good book
Ya! It's a really good book, lot's of friendly pictures ... Read more

Book Description

Arguably the quintessential work of the High Renaissance in Venice, Titian's Venus of Urbino also represents one of the major themes of western art: the female nude. But how did Titian intend this work to be received? Is she Venus, as the popular title - a modern invention - implies; or is she merely a courtesan? This book tackles this and other questions in six essays by European and American art historians. Examining the work within the context of Renaissance art theory, as well as the psychology and society of sixteenth-century Italy, and even in relation to Manet's nineteenth-century 'translation' of the work, their observations begin and end with the painting itself, and with appreciation of Titian's great achievement in creating this archetypal image of feminine beauty. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Titian's greatest work?
Editor Rona Goffen has done a superb job anthologizing some of the most insightful scholarship surrounding one of the most impressive works of the Western cannon. Goffen (Rutgers), an expert on Titian's Venetian milieu, has carefully selected excerpts from some of the finest contemporary scholarship including such prominent names as T.J. Clark (Berkley), Carlo Ginzburg (UCLA) and David Rosand (Columbia). This collection of essays seeks to place the Venus in its social context by focusing on gender roles of sixteenth-century Venice. This discourse includes a broad discussion of the role of women in both marriage and as courtesan.

Ginzburg offers an insightful study of Titian's relationship to sixteenth-century sexual codes, focusing on his relationship to Ovid.

Rosand deals with the question of genre with regard to the reclining Venus which becomes so important in Titian's art after the Urbino painting.

Arasse focuses on a semiotic reading of the painting, while Pardo and Goffen both try to contextualize Venus's sexuality.

T.J. Clark's chapter, which is taken from his book The Painting of Modern Life: Paris in the Art of Manet and his Followers (Princeton, 1984), offers a reflection on Manet's Olympia and its significant references toward the Venus of Urbino.

This book is absolutely wonderful! It is rare to find such an insightful anthology of critical that is also such an easy read. This book is a must read for anyone interested in Titian and the Venetian school. Its only draw back is that the essays are not reprinted in their entirety. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A bit unorganized for such a good reference book.
I cannot help giving this book not the best rating possible. What a pity for such a good reference book!
As an individual who practices oil painting myself, I am very interested in the techniques of the Old Masters, among whose Titian's is one of my favorites. In addition to discussions on the catalog, biography, collaboration, etc..., Titian's techniques are discussed in-depth based on scientific results (x-ray and gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry, to name a few. Unfortunately, the presentation of these results is rather unorganized, namely, pointing to painting in point without indicating page or plate number. Consequently, in order to be able to follow the text, I had to make some manual bookmarks myself or search through the book to look for the painting under discussion. Furthermore, some references refer to some paintings that are very difficult to look for throughout the book.

I understand the book is a product of heavy collaboration; therefore, coherence is a real challenge. However, that is no excuse for lack of a thorough index at the end of the book. To my surprise, there is none!

I feel miserable for there is such a flaw in this gem! What a pity!

The definitive work for our generation
This catalogue, complete with numerous essays about Titian's working methods, influences, and the like, is the definitive work on Titian for our generation. It contains lavish illustrations, copious commentary, and a comprehensive selection of the changes Titian's painting underwent during his long life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great book
It's really a great book not only for it's illustrations but also for it's essay.I especially love konemann series of art because of the large size pictures and good quality of reproduction.The book contains a lot of famous paintings along with the details and is convenient for students or art lovers to copy.At last but not the least,it's very cheap. ... Read more

Book Description

These richly illustrated art books cover several centuries of great artists and their masterworks. From Rubens to Dali, each artist's life and times, influences, legacy, and style are explored in depth. Each book analyzes a particular painting with regard to the history surrounding it, the techniques used to create it, and the hidden details that make up the whole, providing a thorough look at each artist's career. Included is a bibliography, a chronological reading of principle works, a brief life history, and listings of public collections featuring each artist. ... Read more

Book Description

This up-to-date, well-illustrated, and thoughtful introduction to the life and works of one of the giants of Western Painting also surveys the golden age of Venetian Painting from Giovanni Bellini to Veronese and its place in the history of Western art. Bruce Cole, Distinguished Professor of Fine Arts at Indiana University and author of numerous books on Italian Renaissance art, begins with the life and work of Giovanni Bellini, the principal founder of Venetian Renaissance painting. He continues with the paintings of Giorgione and the young Titian whose work embodied the new Venetian style. Cole discusses and explains all of Titian's major works--portraits, religious paintings, and nudes--from various points of view and shows how Venetian painting of this period differed from painting in Florence and elsewhere in Italy and became a distinct and fully-developed style of its own. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Masterful Introduction to Titian
Bruce Cole, the respected historian of Renaissance Italian art, has brought forth yet another highly compelling book, this time illuminating the achievements of the great Venetian painter, Titian. Cole, author of more than 10 books and a connoisseur of the highest order, offers clear and interesting commentary on the style of one of the masters of the Italian Renaissance. By placing Titian in the general context of Western art and the specific context of the golden age of Venetian painting, Cole makes Titian's achievements shine through his discussions of Titian's portraits, religious paintings and nudes. He shows how Venetian style differs from that in other parts of Italy, especially Florence, and how it grew and developed in its distinctive way. Cole explores Titian's contributions to portraiture, his sophisticated use of mythology, the question of drawing in Venetian painting, Titian's use of color, and the artists he influenced.

This book is an elegant and engaging introduction to Titian; it is full of fascinating information and observations not only about Titian but about his times. Cole's explanations of Titian's great works are lucid, sensible, and accessible to general readers and scholars alike. Definitely worth a close look. It is beautifully printed with luscious reproductions. Those in color are reproduced with great fidelity. ... Read more

Book Description

Titan, the long-lived genius of 16th-century Venice, revolutionized the technique of oil painting. See his dazzling use of sumptuous color and his mastery of composition in portraits of popes and princes to scenes from religion and myth. The DK ArtBook series presents both the life and works of each artist within the cultural, social, and political context of their time. To make the books easy to consult, they are divided into three areas -- the life and works of the artist, historical and cultural background, and analysis of major works -- which are identifiable by side bands. Each spread focuses on a specific theme, with an introductory text and several annotated illustrations. Few art history texts contain such abundance of full-color illustrations. The index section is also illustrated and gives background information on key figures and the location of the artist's works. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Marvelous Little Book of A Great Painter
Entrigued with the painting "Votive Portrait of the Vendramin Family" I sought out to learn more of this painter. This book provided such insight in this small yet beautiful expose of his life.
Arranged chronoligically, this book covers the artist's life from his beginnings in Venice with Gentile Bellini. He continues to thrive in Venice, becoming legendary for his portraits. Interesting that what draws me to his works he his legendary for: rich colors and vitality of figures.

Fascinating tidbits of his ties with Reformation and Popes. His supposed last painting, Pieta, has touching self-portrait of his kneeling before Crucified Christ. Touching!
Valuable find that will be referred to.

sumptious
Okay, I'm no great art critic, just someone who appreciates beautiful art. (Just the type of person this introduction was meant for) All I can say is, the book is like Titian's work --in a word, Sumptious. The soft colors and wonderful capturing of feeling in his subjects make Titian one of the great masters, and this little book gives quality pictures of his work. Granted, the size is small, but one can't expect full-size reproductions for 12 dollars or so. Another neat feature is a list in back of the location of all of Titian's works, as well as a list of all of Titian's contemporaries, mostly Venetian, who influenced him, or vice versa. For that matter, the book even includes examples of the work of some of these artists in the main body. Zuffi's text is sparse but informative; he prefers to let the master's art be the main content, and I think this works quite well. All-n-all, a superb volume!

must own
finally, the " total history" school of thought in a pleasant to read and learn approach. beautifully presented, superb selection of titians works, with background facts relating to various periods in the masters life. a must for anyone into art history. ... Read more

Book Description

This study examines the development of the altarpiece in sixteenth-century Venice.Focusing closely on Titian's St. Peter Martyr Altarpiece, which was the most famous work by this painter, destroyed in 1867, Patricia Meilman considers how this painting irrevocably changed the course of altar decoration. Demonstrating the legacy of the St. Peter Martyr Altarpiece with a younger generation of painters,she also examines the social, religious and historical events of the decades just before the Tridentine reforms and their impact on devotional imagery and practices. ... Read more