How to read Italian Renaissance painting

Art historian Zuffi describes various compositional themes, topics, and techniques found in Italian Renaissance painting and illustrates each with a particular example. He introduces the reader to many fine-artists' works and provides historical and social detail about the era in which they lived in order to help understand their work. The book sports a two-page spread for each theme, which contains a biographical paragraph and a full reproduction of a painting with a focus on details showing which theme, topic, or technique being employed. For example, Zuffi uses Gentile da Fabriano's The Adoration of the Magi to illustrate the technique of "luxury," and Pietro Perugino's Apollo and Marsyas with its ancient Greek references for "Classicism." There are two indexes: one of all the terms and themes covered and a second of artists and their works. VERDICT The breadth of artists found here is impressive, and many well-known paintings are described. This unique approach to the subject can be seen as introductory for students, as well as of interest to the specialist and general reader. It is recommended for most Italian Renaissance collections and as a complementary text for art history students.-Ellen Bates, New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.