Dosso Dossi Court Painter in Renaissance Ferrara

Rating:
Summary: What an Art History Book Should Be
Review: This is exactly how you want a book on a painter to be. The book features beautiful and large reproductions of the work of Dosso Dossi and of Dosso's brother, Battista, as well as works of painters, such as Giorgione and Rafael, that influenced Dosso. The paintings and illustrations are conveniently numbered and referred to by number in the many essays that fill the book. The essays themselves are wonderful. The subjects range from speculation about Dosso's influences, to the influence Dosso himself had on painting in his part of Italy, to a discussion of his techniques, which are the most intersting part of the book. Dosso changed his works directly on the canvas, rather than planning them out first. New x-ray technology has revealed the underlying layers of paint, and many of the original versions Dosso painted are shown here, along with much speculation on why he made the changes he did. Even if you are not a Dosso Dossi fan, the book is a valuable study into the mind and techniques of an artist, and to the state of painting in central and northern Italy during the Renaissance.

Rating:
Summary: What an Art History Book Should Be
Review: This is exactly how you want a book on a painter to be. The book features beautiful and large reproductions of the work of Dosso Dossi and of Dosso's brother, Battista, as well as works of painters, such as Giorgione and Rafael, that influenced Dosso. The paintings and illustrations are conveniently numbered and referred to by number in the many essays that fill the book. The essays themselves are wonderful. The subjects range from speculation about Dosso's influences, to the influence Dosso himself had on painting in his part of Italy, to a discussion of his techniques, which are the most intersting part of the book. Dosso changed his works directly on the canvas, rather than planning them out first. New x-ray technology has revealed the underlying layers of paint, and many of the original versions Dosso painted are shown here, along with much speculation on why he made the changes he did. Even if you are not a Dosso Dossi fan, the book is a valuable study into the mind and techniques of an artist, and to the state of painting in central and northern Italy during the Renaissance.