The Intellectual Education of the Italian Renaissance Artist

Scholars have traditionally viewed the Italian Renaissance artist as a gifted but poorly educated craftsman, but Angela Dressen's volume reveals a general level of learning that was much more substantial than assumed. She emphasizes the role of mediators who had a particular interest in augmenting artists' knowledge and how artists used Latin and vernacular texts to gain additional knowledge.

Format: Hardback
Length: 394 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Scholars have long regarded the Italian Renaissance artist as a talented yet uneducated craftsman whose intricate and challenging creations were largely the result of the guidance of a more educated advisor. These perceptions are, in part, derived from research that has primarily focused on the artist's social status and workshop training. In this comprehensive volume, Angela Dressen delves into the diverse range of educational opportunities available to Italian Renaissance artists. By examining the formation of artistic talent within the broader context of education, Dressen specifically focuses on the training of highly skilled yet average artists, dispelling the notion that their level of learning was significantly limited. She underscores the crucial role of intermediaries who were actively engaged in enhancing artists' knowledge, highlighting how artists utilized Latin and vernacular texts to acquire the additional knowledge they sought with great enthusiasm. Dressen's volume offers fresh perspectives on a subject that intersects early modern intellectual, educational, and art history, shedding light on previously underexplored aspects of artistic development during this transformative period.

Weight: 976g
Dimension: 184 x 281 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108831321