Giorgio Vasari: The Man and the Book (The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts, 20)

A striking account of Vasari’s career, friendships, and contribution to the art of the Italian Renaissance Vasari’s Lives of the Most Excellent Architects, Painters, and Sculptors , first published in 1550, fixed for three hundred years general European views about the art of the Renaissance, and its influence still lingers today. While much has been written about Vasari’s writings, comparatively few full-length studies have dealt with the man himself. In this book, T.S.R. Boase offers a compelling account of Vasari’s life and career. At the same time, Boase explores Vasari’s ideas about the art and artists he described in the two editions of his Lives , placing these reflections in their contemporary context and later developments in art history and criticism. The result is an important appraisal of Vasari’s achievement, which despite its imperfections is without parallel in the history of Western art.

A striking account of Vasari's career,friendships, and contribution to the art of theItalian Renaissance Vasari's Lives ofthe Most Excellent Architects, Painters, and Sculptors, firstpublished in 1550, fixed for three hundred years general Europeanviews about the art of the Renaissance, and its influence stilllingers today. While much has been written about Vasari's writings,comparatively few full-length studies have dealt with the manhimself. In this book, T.S.R. Boase offers a compelling account ofVasari's life and career. At the same time, Boase explores Vasari'sideas about the art and artists he described in the two editions ofhis Lives, placing these reflections in their contemporarycontext and later developments in art history and criticism. Theresult is an important appraisal of Vasari's achievement, whichdespite its imperfections is without parallel in the history ofWestern art.

Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of Illustrations Photographic Sources Abbreviations Preface I. The Man II. The Book III. The Maniera Greca IV. The Maniera Tedesca V. The Critic VI. Assisi and Pisa VII. Arezzo and Florence VIII. Foreign Parts IX. Errors and Omissions X. Raphael and Michelangelo XI. Some Contemporaries XII. The Last Years Appendices A. Silvano Razzi B. Travel C. Vasari in Padua Select Bibliography Index