Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane - Hardcover

Graham–dixon, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0393081494 ISBN 13: 9780393081497

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011

Synopsis

For four hundred years Caravaggio's (1571-1610) staggering artistic achievements have thrilled viewers, yet his volatile personal trajectory-the murder of Ranuccio Tomasini, the doubt surrounding Caravaggio's sexuality, the chain of events that began with his imprisonment on Malta and ended with his premature death-has long confounded historians. In a bravura performance, Andrew Graham-Dixon delves into the original Italian sources, presenting fresh details about Caravaggio's sex life, his many crimes and public brawls, and the most convincing account yet published of the painter's tragic death at the age of thirty-eight. With illuminating readings of Caravaggio's infamous religious paintings, which often depict prostitutes and poor people, Graham-Dixon immerses readers in the world of Italy at the height of the Counter-Reformation and creates a masterful profile of the mercurial painter's life and work.

About this title

Product Description:

HardCover. Pub Date: 2011 Pages: 514 Publisher: WW Norton & Co. For four hundred years Caravaggio's (1571-1610) staggering artistic achievements have thrilled viewers. yet his volatile personal trajectory-the murder of Ranuccio Tomasini. the doubt surrounding Caravaggio's sexuality. the chain of events that began with his imprisonment on Malta and ended with his premature death-has long confounded historians. In a avura performance. Andrew Graham-Dixon delves into the original Italian sources. presenting fresh details about Caravaggio's sex life. his many crimes and public awls. and the most convincing account yet published of the painter's tragic death at the age of thirty-eight. With illuminating readings of Caravaggio's infamous religious paintings. which often depict prostitutes and poor people. Graham-Dixon immerses readers in the world of Italy at the height of the Cou...

Review:

Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane gave me immense pleasure and provided constant delight. It is a thrilling lesson in the art of seeing, a sensual exploration of the shadows of Caravaggio's sometimes violent but always Christian world, a detective story with a highly satisfying ending. Andrew Graham-Dixon's ability to have a reader see a painting through written language is a rare and precious gift. The book's rigor and integrity are obvious. I trusted every word and was sorry to turn the final page.--Peter Carey, author of "Parrot and Olivier in America"

The most gifted art critic of his generation.--Robert Hughes

A thrilling lesson in the art of seeing....The book's rigor and integrity are obvious. I trusted every word and was sorry to turn the final page.--Peter Carey, author of "Parrot and Olivier in America"

The most gifted art critic of his generation. --Robert Hughes"

An impressive web of biography, social history and art history.

Graham-Dixon's biography brilliantly illuminates the life of an artist who was no less shadowy than his canvases--a man capable of both committing murder and creating ineffable beauty.--Joseph Luzzi

[Graham-Dixon] is an entertaining art historian. He took ten years to come to terms with a very obdurate and highly original painter. Time well spent.

A thrilling lesson in the art of seeing, a sensual exploration of the shadows of Caravaggio's sometimes violent but always Christian world, a detective story with a highly satisfying ending.--Peter Carey

Criticism that manages to be skeptical and humane, dryly witty and deeply serious ...--Anthony Quinn

Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane reads like a historical-swashbuckler-cum-detective-story while also providing an up-to-date introduction to some of the most admired paintings in Western art. --Michael Dirda (09/08/2011)

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0393081494
• ISBN 13: 9780393081497
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 514