Lives of the Artists: Volume 2In his Lives of the Artists of the Italian Renaissance, Vasari demonstrated a literary talent that outshone even his outstanding abilities as a painter and architect. Through character sketches and anecdotes he depicts Piero di Cosimo shut away in his derelict house, living only to paint; Giulio Romano's startling painting of Jove striking down the giants; and his friend Francesco Salviati, whose biography also tells us much about Vasari's own early career. Vasari's original and soaring vision plus his acute aesthetic judgements have made him one of the most influential art historians of all time. |
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adorned Alessandro altarpiece Andrea del Sarto Antonio architect Arezzo artists Baccio Bartolommeo Battista beautiful Bronzino cardinal cartoons chapel chiaroscuro church of San colouring commissioned craftsmen Dead Christ death depicted died diligence Domenico Donatello door drawing Duke Cosimo Duomo engraved excellent executed façade figures finished Florence Florentine Fra Bartolommeo France Francesco Francesco Salviati fresco friars friends Gentile Giorgio Vasari Girolamo Giulio grace hand high altar honour Jacopo Jacopo Pontormo Jacopo Sansovino king Lady living loggia Lord Lorenzo loved Luca Madonna Mantua marble marvellous master Medici Messer Michelangelo Michelozzo Niccolò Nicola nude ornaments Ottaviano painted a panel painter palace panel picture Perugia Perugino piazza Piero Pietro Aretino Pietro Perugino Pisa Pontormo Pope Pope Julius III portrait praised predella putti Raphael Rome rooms Rosso Salviati San Marco Sansovino Santa Maria scenes sculpture seen Servites showing Siena St John style talent things tomb Vasari says vaulting Venice young