Synopsis
SOLD
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Watson has chosen a single Renaissance painting, Paolo Veronese's Wisdom and Strength , on which to base a freewheeling group portrait of some 20 of the richest, most powerful art patrons of the last 400 years, from "mad Hapsburg Emperor Rudolph II," who commissioned the painting, to robber baron Henry Clay Frick, whose estate now owns it. By explaining how and why the painting journeyed from owner to owner, Watson ( Caravaggio Conspiracy ) sheds light on topics ranging from the "secret meanings of allegory" to the dominant hues of Thomas Hope's (of Hope Diamond fame) drawing room. Yet, though he describes his book as the biography of a painting, Wisdom and Strength itself receives only a fraction of the attention lavished on the characters and habits of its owners. And while the author discusses such art historical developments as the rise of mannerism, the relationship of the baroque to the Counter-Reformation and the changing role of the artist in society, Watson's main concern is the nature of high-powered art dealing. Photos not seen by PW .
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
The 16th-century painting "Wisdom and Strength," an allegory by the Venetian Paolo Veronese, passed through the hands of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, Queen Christina of Sweden, the Duke of Orleans, and Thomas Hope, and survived war looting, art market fluctuations, and numerous journeys across Europe before reaching its current home at the Frick Collection in New York. British journalist Watson traces the colorful lives and times of the painting's owners, interjecting nontechnical discussions of patronage, the history of pigment, and similar art historical topics. The color plates that would have helped to show why collectors so coveted this luminous masterpiece are notably absent--the painting being reproduced in color only on the book jacket. Still, this is an unusual book that makes for good reading. Recommended for public libraries.
- Annette Melville, Research Lib . Group, Stanford, Cal.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for WISDOM AND STRENGTH
Seller Image
Wisdom and Strength: The Biography of a Renaissance Masterpiece
Seller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Seller Inventory # wbs6983181492
Buy Used
US$ 5.07
US$ 7.39 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Wisdom and Strength: The Biography of a Renaissance Masterpiece
Published by
Vintage Publishing, United Kingdom, London, 1993
ISBN 10: 0099326612
ISBN 13: 9780099326618
Used
Paperback
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Paolo Veronese's painting, "Allegory of Wisdom and Strength", has been acclaimed both for its technical virtuosity and its remarkable journey through history. During more than four centuries it has been a silent witness to great political dramas - war, abdication, revolution, and attempted assassination; and to the personal tragedies of emperors, queens, the royal dukes of France, and the corrupt cardinals of Italy. And it has belonged to some of the greatest collectors in history - Rudolf II, Queen Christina of Sweden, the Duc d'Orleans, Philippe-Egalite, Thomas Hope, and the picture's final owner, the American industrialist Henry Clay Frick. It now hangs among the Reynoldses, the Rembrandts and the Renoirs of the Frick Collection on New York's Fifth Avenue. In this book Peter Watson, art journalist and writer, offers a blend of art and history in his biography of Veronese's masterpiece. In doing so, he places art in the context of the lives of the people devoted to it. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR004576627
Buy Used
US$ 9.15
US$ 7.65 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Wisdom and Strength: The Biography of a Renaissance Masterpiece
Seller: Book Haven, Wellington, WLG, New Zealand
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good. Seller Inventory # 1373619
Buy Used
US$ 8.40
US$ 23.00 shipping
Ships from New Zealand to U.S.A.
Ships from New Zealand to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available