Caravaggio, or more accurately Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Milan 1571 - Porto Ercole 1610), was a legend even in his own lifetime. Celebrated by some for his naturalism and his revolutionary pictorial inventions, he was considered by others to have destroyed painting. Few other artists have attracted such controversial and contradictory interpretations right up to modern times and to the latest art historical research. The book offers a comprehensive new examination of the whole of Caravaggio's oeuvre with a catalogue raisonee of his works. Five introductory chapters analyse his artistic career from his training in Lombard Milan and his triumphal rise in papal Rome up to his dramatic final years in Naples, Malta and Sicily. The spotlight thereby falls upon the radical nature and innovative force of his art and its influence in all of Europe. Our understanding of Caravaggio's work has been substantially broadened in recent decades by major exhibitions, restoration campaigns, new attributions and archival discoveries. The new catalogue raisonee offers a detailed overview of Caravaggio's entire oeuvre on the basis of the latest research. All the paintings are documented in large-scale reproductions and spectacular detail illustrations that set new standards in their scope and quality.
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
About the Author
Sebastian Schutze was a longtime research fellow at the Bibliotheca Hertziana (Max Planck Institute for Art History) in Rome and currently holds the Bader Chair in Southern Baroque Art at Queen's University, Kingston. He has published widely on Italian art and culture in the early modern era and is a member of the scientific board of the Istituto Italiano per gli Studi Filosofici in Naples and of the Institut europeen d'histoire de la Republique des Lettres in Paris.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The most definitive catalogue of the works of Caravaggio. This enormous book brings the works as close as possible without seeing the originals. Sumptuously produced and brilliantly organised it is a work of total dedication which takes the breath away with the turning of each lavish page.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Mason
Format:Hardcover
This is a wonderfully illustrated publication of one of the major painters of the whole art hystory. Although the book is meant for all the readers, the text is very accurate. The author is an extremely qualified expert of the 17th century who describes very authoritatively what is known about Caravaggio. The figures are impressive: I often had the feeling that I was touching the paintings. I couldn't find any defect. Moreover, the price is very reasonable for the quality of the book.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By jomutheone
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a catalogue of Caravaggio's works this is exceptional. The paintings are beautifully rendered on the page and while it is not the same as seeing the original in situ, in some ways it is better as one could not possibly get near enough to the original paintings to discern the details, all practicalities of travel aside. It is like having a personal Caravaggio art collection at the fingertips that can be explored at leisure. It is a luxury purchase but the quality of the reproductions justifies the outlay.
71 of 89 people found the following review helpful
By W. BUTLER
Format:Hardcover
I believe 8 (now 9) straight 5-star reviews must be some kind of record. But as AmazonUK kindly allows anyone to look at readers' previous reviews it appears this is the first book most of them have reviewed. So when one reads "the best art book ever" the most helpful advice one can give to those who are wavering as to spending so much money on a massive folio which will inevitably end up in a cupboard under the stairs is to switch over to the reviews of this same opus on AmazonUSA.
There you will find what became a very heated serious debate about the merits of this volume. Started off by an art expert using the words "Too Dark". What amounted to a fist fight then broke out between those who agreed with him and an earlier reviewer who said every one of these reproductions was impeccable. Wanting to get at the truth I eventually managed to inspect this monster in a Santa Monica bookshop and its limitations were all too clear. The naysayers were right. Firstly this book too heavy to handle. Then after a sheaf of huge heads (to trap the non-art educated into believing Caravaggio was the baroque eqivalent of Raphael) one gets page after page of black ink obscuring small details which other Caravaggio books show were an integral part of his compositions.
Printing reproductions at a huge scale is beyond the capabilities of "mass-production" printing presses. Despite which Taschen insist on coming out with "eye-candy" volumes every year to cater to those looking for an impressive expensive Christmas gift. In the same bookshop in 2007 there was a 4-foot high pile of gold paint behind which lay that year's offering devoted to "Klimt". Naturally one wondered must I now replace my 2 excellent Abrams books?... Read more ›
There you will find what became a very heated serious debate about the merits of this volume. Started off by an art expert using the words "Too Dark". What amounted to a fist fight then broke out between those who agreed with him and an earlier reviewer who said every one of these reproductions was impeccable. Wanting to get at the truth I eventually managed to inspect this monster in a Santa Monica bookshop and its limitations were all too clear. The naysayers were right. Firstly this book too heavy to handle. Then after a sheaf of huge heads (to trap the non-art educated into believing Caravaggio was the baroque eqivalent of Raphael) one gets page after page of black ink obscuring small details which other Caravaggio books show were an integral part of his compositions.
Printing reproductions at a huge scale is beyond the capabilities of "mass-production" printing presses. Despite which Taschen insist on coming out with "eye-candy" volumes every year to cater to those looking for an impressive expensive Christmas gift. In the same bookshop in 2007 there was a 4-foot high pile of gold paint behind which lay that year's offering devoted to "Klimt". Naturally one wondered must I now replace my 2 excellent Abrams books?... Read more ›
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
We bought this book as a Christmas present for my wife's brother, and he is absolutely delighted with it. Everything about the book oozes class and quality. We had some idea of what to expect after looking at the publisher's website, but this could do no justice to such a masterful labour of love. There may be highly knowledgable art expects that could pick holes in things, but I somehow doubt it. Something to treasure for ever.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Amazing high quality fold out pictures of all of his work. Obviously this is not a biographical account of his life so look elsewhere if that's what you're after. The main problem you will find is storing this mammoth tome as it will dwarf most bookcases!
By steno
Format:Hardcover
Without question the best purchase I have made from AMAZON. It is also noteworthy that the price is well below that asked by the original publishers. Outstanding quality and value for money.Caravaggio: The Complete Paintings
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I received this book for Christmas and I have to say it is simply remarkable. Remarkably well written. Remarkably lavish quality. Remarkably well produced close ups of Merisi's finest works (you can see the brush strokes - it's like having the painting in front of you!) and remarkably large, this is a truly awesome book. If you have pondered whether or not to spend the money, do. You simply won't regret it.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 15 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Caravaggio: The Complete Paintings
I found this book to be amazing! It has the most wonderful glossy reproductions of Caravaggio's work and the text was very descriptive and illuminating. Read more
Published 12 months ago by marilynM
5.0 out of 5 stars
perfect
if you like Caravaggio, then this is a must must get. the book is massive. and has fantastic detail close ups and fold out pictures.
Published 21 months ago by jacobseaton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Caravaggio paintings
This book, beautifully printed on high quality glossy paper is the most authoritive work on this Italian painter. The painting details and explanations are superb. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2011 by N. Byron Fossberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterpiece of an art book
I had been eyeing this book since it came out just over a year ago, and my wife generously bought it for me as a Christmas present. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2011 by Percy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Caravaggio master book
A beautiful book which will please any book lover or art lover. The book covers the complete works of Carravaggio in a way never seen before. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2010 by T van der Merwe
5.0 out of 5 stars
caravaggio the complete paintings
simply the best book I have ever seen or owned.A thing of true beauty.Delivered in its specially designed carrying box the quality of the prints is awesome,as is the general design... Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Mr. D. Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Trevor Jota 120
Just received it today. The quality of this book, like others said before, is outstanding. Its a bit expensive, but very good quality for money. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by T. Pirt
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
