Seeing Renaissance Glass: Art, Optics, and Glass of Early Modern Italy, 1250-1425

The invention of eyeglasses in 1280 near Pisa revolutionized optical technology and visuality, influencing contemporaneous art, religion, and science. Renaissance Glass explores how artists used glass to resonate with the period's complex visuality and achieve their artistic goals, making it suitable for an interdisciplinary approach to humanities courses, media studies, and art history.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 214 pages
\n Publication date: 17 December 2018
\n Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc
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The invention of eyeglasses around 1280 near Pisa marked a significant milestone in the history of optical technology and visuality. This mundane medium of glass not only revolutionized the way people saw the world but also had a profound impact on contemporaneous art, religion, and science. References to glass can be found throughout the Bible and in medieval hagiography and poetry, highlighting its importance in various cultural contexts.

One notable example is the Islamic scientific treatise that likened a portion of the eyes anatomy to glass. This treatise, known as the Book of Optics, entered the scientific circles of the Latin West during the early modern period. It further contributed to the understanding and appreciation of glass as a material and its potential applications in various fields.

In the realm of art, early modern Italian artists embraced the use of glass in their most important artworks. Artists such as Giotto, Duccio, Nicola Pisano, Simone Martini, and many others utilized the medium of glass to capture the complex visuality of their time. Whether they depicted glass or actual glass in the form of stained glass, gilded glass, or transparent glass, these artists sought to resonate with the period's aesthetic sensibilities and achieve their artistic goals.

Seeing Renaissance Glass: The Art of Glass in Early Modern Italy is a groundbreaking study that explores the important role that glass played in shaping the art of the Italian Renaissance. This interdisciplinary approach to the visual culture of early modern Italy is particularly well-suited to introductory humanities courses, as well as classes on media studies and late medieval and early Renaissance art history. It is also ideal for a general reader interested in art history or issues of materiality.

The book delves into the various techniques and materials used by early modern Italian artists to create their glass masterpieces. It discusses the development of glassmaking techniques, the types of glass available, and the artistic possibilities that glass offered. The authors also examine how glass was used in religious contexts, such as stained glass windows, and how it influenced the representation of the divine in Renaissance art.

Furthermore, the book explores the relationship between glass and other materials, such as metal, wood, and marble, in Renaissance art. It discusses how artists combined different materials to create complex and multifaceted artworks that reflected the richness and diversity of the period. The authors also examine how glass was used to create illusions and trompe l'oeil effects, further enhancing the visual impact of Renaissance art.

Seeing Renaissance Glass offers a comprehensive and engaging analysis of the role that glass played in shaping the art of the Italian Renaissance. It provides a wealth of information and insights into the creative processes and artistic choices of early modern Italian artists, shedding light on their contributions to the development of Renaissance art. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the history of art and material culture.

\n Weight: 440g\n
Dimension: 155 x 229 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781433148347\n
Edition number: New ed\n