Vasari's Words : The 'Lives of the Artists' As a History of Ideas in the Italian Renaissance

In this book, Douglas Biow analyzes Vasari's 'Lives of the Artists' - often considered the first great work of art history in the modern era - from a new perspective. He focuses on key words and shows how they address a variety of compelling, culturally determined ideas circulating in late Renaissance Italy. The keywords chosen for this study investigate five seemingly divergent, yet still interconnected, ideas. What does it mean to have a 'profession', professione, and possess 'genius', ingegno, in the visual arts? How is 'speed', prestezza, valued among visual artists of the period and how is 'time', tempo, conceptualized in Vasari's narrative and descriptions of visual art? Finally, how is the 'night', notte, conceived and visually represented as a distinct span of time in 'The Lives'? Written in an engaging manner for specialists and non-specialists alike, 'Vasari's Words' places 'The Lives' - a truly foundational and innovative book of Western culture - within the context of the modern discipline of intellectual history In This Book, Douglas Biow Analyzes Vasari's Lives Of The Artists -- Often Considered The First Great Work Of Art History In The Modern Era-- From A New Perspective. He Focuses On Key Words And Shows How They Address A Variety Of Compelling, Culturally Determined Ideas Circulating In Late Renaissance Italy. The Keywords Chosen For This Study Investigate Five Seemingly Divergent, Yet Still Interconnected, Ideas. What Does It Mean To Have A Profession, Professione, And Possess Genius, Ingegno, In The Visual Arts? How Is Speed,prestezza, Valued Among Visual Artists Of The Period And How Is Time, Tempo, Conceptualized In Vasari's Narrative And Descriptions Of Visual Art?-- Professione/profession -- Ingegno/genius -- Prestezza/speed -- Tempo/time -- Notte/night. Douglas Biow, University Of Texas, Austin. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 181-234) And Index. "In this book, Douglas Biow analyzes Vasari's Lives of the Artists --often considered the first great work of art history in the modern era-- from a new perspective. He focuses on key words and shows how they address a variety of compelling, culturally determined ideas circulating in late Renaissance Italy. The keywords chosen for this study investigate five seemingly divergent, yet still interconnected, ideas. What does it mean to have a "profession, " professione, and possess "genius, " ingegno, in the visual arts? How is "speed, "prestezza, valued among visual artists of the period and how is "time, " tempo, conceptualized in Vasari's narrative and descriptions of visual art?"-- Résumé de l'éditeur "In this book, Douglas Biow analyzes Vasari's Lives of the Artists -- often considered the first great work of art history in the modern era-- from a new perspective. He focuses on key words and shows how they address a variety of compelling, culturally determined ideas circulating in late Renaissance Italy. The keywords chosen for this study investigate five seemingly divergent, yet still interconnected, ideas. What does it mean to have a "profession," professione, and possess "genius," ingegno, in the visual arts? How is "speed, "prestezza, valued among visual artists of the period and how is "time," tempo, conceptualized in Vasari's narrative and descriptions of visual art?"-- Provided by publisher This book explores through keywords how Vasari's Lives is designed to address from beginning to end a variety of compelling ideas circulating in Renaissance Italy. Written in an entertaining, down-to-earth manner for specialists and non-specialists, it places the Lives within the context of the modern discipline of intellectual history.