Rating: 
Summary: Stunning, dark and utterly absorbing
Review: When I read this book, I knew very little about Caravaggio except a few of his paintings. After I'd finished reading, I felt that I could understand Caravaggio's world a lot better. Robb's superb descriptions really enable you to feel the streets of 17th century Rome under your feet; he brings the slightly disreputable side of Caravaggio's existence so vividly to life that it's like watching a film. Most of the art books I have read are written in a rather stuffy kind of language, but Peter Robb's is so easy and enjoyable to read that it's a complete pleasure (I'm a teenager and it was like listening to someone chatting about Caravaggio as opposed to your typical monograph). Understandably, some people might not like the complete irreverence for history and Great Men, but I think Caravaggio would have approved. With Robb's easy use of slang, and modern translations, history is brought to life and Caravaggio's turbulent art is finally provided with a background. I found Robb's treatment of Caravaggio's supposed homosexuality very open and frank, and I particularly enjoyed his discussion of Amor Victorious (or Cupid, or Love, depending on the various names).All in all, I would thoroughly recommend this. It may not be High Art, but it brings the history to life and achieves the very difficult task of making the most controversial artist a little more understandable. Brilliant read.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning, dark and utterly absorbing
Review: When I read this book, I knew very little about Caravaggio except a few of his paintings. After I'd finished reading, I felt that I could understand Caravaggio's world a lot better. Robb's superb descriptions really enable you to feel the streets of 17th century Rome under your feet; he brings the slightly disreputable side of Caravaggio's existence so vividly to life that it's like watching a film. Most of the art books I have read are written in a rather stuffy kind of language, but Peter Robb's is so easy and enjoyable to read that it's a complete pleasure (I'm a teenager and it was like listening to someone chatting about Caravaggio as opposed to your typical monograph). Understandably, some people might not like the complete irreverence for history and Great Men, but I think Caravaggio would have approved. With Robb's easy use of slang, and modern translations, history is brought to life and Caravaggio's turbulent art is finally provided with a background. I found Robb's treatment of Caravaggio's supposed homosexuality very open and frank, and I particularly enjoyed his discussion of Amor Victorious (or Cupid, or Love, depending on the various names). All in all, I would thoroughly recommend this. It may not be High Art, but it brings the history to life and achieves the very difficult task of making the most controversial artist a little more understandable. Brilliant read.
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