Giorgione's Tempest: Interpreting the Hidden Subject - Softcover

Settis, Salvatore

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0226748944 ISBN 13: 9780226748948

Publisher: University Of Chicago Press/Polity Press, 1994

Synopsis

The Tempest is Giorgione's most enigmatic painting. It is a depiction of Giorgione's own family, of the "family of man" tale from Boccaccio, or of the myth of Apollo's birth? In this remarkable study, Salvatore Settis uses the mystery of the painting to shed light on the relationship between artist, patron, work, and critic. The result is a brilliant piece of detective work in the history and sociology of culture that stresses the function of Giorgione's art for the emerging, classically educated connoisseur elite of sixteenth-century Venice.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The Tempest by Giorgione is one of the most enigmatic paintings of the Renaissance. This remarkable work examines the hypotheses and arguments which have surrounded this painting over the centuries. From the sixteenth century to the present day, commentators have tried to fit the elements of The Tempest into a symbolic scheme. Some have seen it as the depiction of Giorgione's own family, or the 'family of man'; others have preferred a literary or mythological interpretation, such as a tale from Boccaccio or the birth of Apollo. All critics agree, however, that the painting eludes any immediate reading.

Settis uses this mystery to shed light on the relationship between artist, patron, work and critic. He demonstrates the inadequacy of official interpretations of The Tempest and develops a new and highly original approach. The result is a brilliant piece of detective work in the history and sociology of culture.

Language Notes:

Text: English, Italian (translation)

About this edition

• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press/Polity Press
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0226748944
• ISBN 13: 9780226748948
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 189