Reviews for Italy

The average rating for Italy based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-02-17 00:00:00 Joseph Polansky I raided Project Gutenberg's collection of books on arts and artists recently and this was one of the books I downloaded. Albrecht Dürer is one of my favourite artists and it has been interesting to see him in the most mundane way, removed from the mystique of an artist. The book is a collection of letters and diaries, and they deal for the most part, with firmly quotidian concerns. Dürer pays bills, receives payments, trades drawings. I would be lying if I said it doesn't get very dry. However, it's also a look at a time when being an artist was first and foremost, being a craftsman, when painting was as much a trade as baking and cobbling and candle-stick making. I enjoyed reading about the artists' guilds and the procession of the tradesmen in Antwerp. I was also reminded that art, like most things at the time, was mainly a man's job, when Dürer commends an illumination by a young girl, saying that, "It is very wonderful that a woman's picture should be so good." I'm taking this positively, though because he comes across as agreeable, witty and appreciative of art in all its forms and origins. Besides the constant accounts of florins and ducats and angels and stivers, Dürer mentions other things: his escape from a runaway ship, the beached whale in Zeeland, the bridge "where men are beheaded" and all the gifts he gives and receives, from sugar loaves to snail shells. There is also a religious note to Dürer's musings, especially his impassioned support of Martin Luther. The greater presence of religion then is striking, even in the smallest of instances, such as the dates and timings, which almost always mention a feast day or religious holiday of some kind. Of course, this was not extraordinary for the time but a first-person account makes the historical fact come alive. In the end, that's why I liked the book: for its glimpse into the every-day life of a master artist and the fascinating times he lived in.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-04-12 00:00:00 Paul Long Albrecht Dürer has been one of my favorite artists and historical figures for years. And only a few days ago did I realize we share our birthday! I had to read something about him immediately, to satiate my excitement. And what's better that his very own letters and diaries? A short and delightful read. His letters to his best friend are full of warmth, wit and curiosity. Much to my satisfaction, just like I have imagined him. The journal might be a bit tedious, but hidden between neatly kept accounts, Dürer gives us details about the world around him - a perfect, first hand account. Coronations, fires, gambling, barters, clothing, animals, theater, architecture... A must read for all art and history lovers.