Product Description: Frederick Hartt's unrivaled classic is a dazzling journey through four centuries of Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture, and architecture. Its sumptuous color illustrations, fine writing, and in-depth scholarship bring into focus all the elements of this extraordinarily creative period and the remarkable personalities who gave it life. Highlights of this Fifth Edition include:
* a striking new design with more than half the artworks illustrated in full color * new views of frescoes and sculptures photographed in their original locations that offer a dynamic insight into the way the art was originally experienced * fresh views of great works of art that have been restored since the last edition * extended captions that identify Renaissance patrons and provide details about historical context, emphasizing how the art was created and why
History of Italian Renaissance Art Review This book is beautiful and thorough, and even though I had to buy it for class, I am very glad that I did and will keep it when the semester is over. The price was right and I love the book.
A Classic This is a wonderful introduction to Italian Renaissance art, completely accessible and scholarly at the same time. Not to be read in one sitting though. An hour at a time is enough. Good for use as a college text as well. Don't feel you have to read every page. If your interest flags, go on to another section where you find the art more appealing.
Christmas present Gave it to my husband for Christmas. He likes it very much and he is very fussy about books.
Simply One Of The Best Books Ever! I don't give 5-star ratings very often. I reserve them for only the best, and this is indeed the best book on the Italian Renaissance. I received both my BA and MA in Art History and this was the text used for my Renaissance classes. The book does not read as a textbook for those looking for leisure reading. It reads like a novel and is written in easy to understand language. Chapters are broken down by time period. There are a TON of pictures! I would say 50% of the book is pictures and 95% of those are in color. There are a few B&W pictures but they are of obscure sculptures or paintings.
The book was originally written by Frederick Harrt who was one of the 'Monument Men' in World War II who went around Italy documenting art, missing, damaged, or otherwise. He has passed away but David Wilkins has kept up on the new editions with the current scholarship being done in Renaissance Art. Whether you get this as a textbook for a class, or leisure reading, a coffee table book perhaps, or even a Christmas book for a hard-to-but-for relative, it is well worth the money.
Good as new? Its a subjective opinion "Good as New" - I would not give this description to the book I received. It was in Good condition, but definitely NOT "Good as New" - The book looked well used but not abused - Oh well, its a great book and will be well used again and again and again.