Description
Book SynopsisIn Caravaggio, Varriano uncovers the principles and practices that guided Caravaggio’s brush as he made some of the most controversial paintings in the history of art. He sheds an important new light on these disputes by tracing the autobiographical threads in Caravaggio’s paintings, framing these within the context of contemporary Italian culture.
Trade Review“The scholarship is not just sound, but is up to date and rich, adding pertinent bibliography from other disciplines. The book’s main strength is in Varriano’s levelheaded approach to his subject and his careful, thoughtful, hard look at the images.”
—Richard Spear,University of Maryland
“The book does an excellent job of looking closely at the paintings, getting us to think about them in new and interesting ways. . . . The degree to which the author will stimulate students to look closely at the pictures is very considerable.”
—David Stone,University of Delaware
“[If] the reader is in search of an incisive and well-grounded reassessment of the nature of Caravaggio’s revolutionary ‘realism,’ they should read John Varriano’s engaging study . . . which cogently unpacks the various ways in which Caravaggio must have worked to orchestrate his riveting imagery.”
—John Gash The Burlington Magazine
Table of ContentsContents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Biographical Conspectus
1. Myths of the Studio
2. Imitation and Imagination
3. The Eye of the Beholder
4. Physical Presences, Erotic Appetites, Wit
5. Violence
6. Portraits and Portrayals
7. Gesture and Expression
8. Settings and Accessories
Conclusion
Notes
Index
