The Embedded Portrait: Giotto, Giottino, Angelico

A new study of the early Renaissance portrait shows how women and men, including clergy and laity, introduced their own portraits into sacred paintings in fourteenth-century Italy. These portraits mimicked the first worshippers of Christ and modeled ideal involvement in the emotion-laden stories. Christopher S. Wood's book "The Embedded Portrait" reconstructs this art historical drama from the point of view of the artists, assigning a leading role to Giottino, who proposed a new manner of painting that was later realized by Fra Angelico. The interpretations offered in the book re-create and update the psychic and libidinal energies that gave rise to these works.

Format: Hardback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In the vibrant tapestry of fourteenth-century Italy, a remarkable phenomenon emerged as both women and men, from the clergy to the laity, embraced the art of self-portraiture within sacred paintings. These images, portraying modern supplicants, often depicted in submissive and prayerful poses, coexisted harmoniously with the holy narratives, creating a captivating blend of the divine and the human. The portraits, reminiscent of the earliest worshippers of Christ, such as Mary, the Three Magi, and Mary Magdalene, served as models for modern viewers, inspiring ideal engagement with the emotionally charged stories.

In his insightful exploration, Christopher S. Wood delves into the intricate realm of Florentine sacred painting, tracing the profound incursions of the real and profane between the reigns of Giotto and Fra Angelico. These portraits, not only encroached upon a sacred space but also intervened in the very artwork itself. The modern interlopers, represented by their portraits, posed a threat to the formal closure that had once served as a powerful symbolic representation of the covenant between God and humans.

To unravel this art historical drama, The Embedded Portrait takes a unique perspective, focusing on the artists rather than the patrons. Drawing upon clues left by the renowned artist Vasari, the book assigns a central role to the painter Giottino, often referred to as "little Giotto." While Giottino may be lesser-known today, his contributions were highly esteemed during his lifetime. He proposed a groundbreaking approach to portraiture that later found fruition in the innovative techniques of Fra Angelico.

Rather than seeking to stabilize the artworks, The Embedded Portrait aims to extend their reach, re-creating and revitalizing the psychic and libidinal energies that gave rise to these remarkable creations in the first place. Through meticulous analysis and interpretation, the book offers fresh insights into the artistic processes and the profound impact of these embedded portraits on the religious and artistic landscape of the fourteenth century.

Weight: 1530g
Dimension: 201 x 278 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691244266