Classical Art: An Introduction to Italian Renaissance Art

Author: (Swiss) Wolfflin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: This book is divided into two parts, primarily discussing the art of the Italian Renaissance. The first part is a study of works, introducing and appreciating the works of masters of the High Renaissance and their predecessors. The second part is theoretical, describing the aesthetic ideals, concepts, and formal characteristics of the classical style of the Renaissance. Wolfflin's approach to studying art is characterized by the perfect combination of technique, reason, and emotion, with sparks of inspiration evident throughout the text. His language is highly insightful, explaining the painting and sculpture of the High Renaissance in Italy from a formal perspective while largely avoiding the significance of subject matter or other factors that determine the creative process. His stylistic analysis blends cultural history and psychology into the creative process, forming a comprehensive and self-contained aesthetic system. This formal theory has greatly influenced the development of art criticism.