Category: Renaissance

Gothic 1200-1500 by Uta Hasekamp

Post author By Art Ride
Post date August 16, 2019

Gothic is a frequently misunderstood term and unless you are well versed with the period history, it is easy to pigeon-hole the term into one or the other simplistic categories. We have a special recommendation for you this month. For the readers who would like to develop a better understanding of Gothic art and architecture, and its connection to religion, economic growth, war, disease and other discontinuities of the period will surely enjoy this wonderful book by Uta Hasekamp. Read on…

Painting from 1200 to 1500 is a mirror of its time, marked by deep religiousness as well as progressive tendencies, by economic prosperity as well as devastating wars and epidemics. A religious perspective is joined by secular themes and efforts to achieve a realistic way of representation. These developments take place in book illumination, which is accessible to rather few people, as well as in the public medium of frescoes and, since 1300, also in panel paintings. With nearly 500 works, Gothic 1200-1500 gives an overview of the visual art of the time.
From the book description

This book offers unique insights into the society and culture of the period 1200 to 1500, and it is really hard to categorize such a brilliant work into a particular category. This book is not widely available, and you may like to check with your local book store in advance.

Germany Renaissance War

Fashion in Steel: The Landsknecht Armor of Wilhelm von Rogendorf by Stefan Krause

Post author By Art Ride
Post date October 1, 2017

For those readers who know that our founders are based in Jamshedpur, the steel city, we want to share our continued enthusiasm for all things steel. It is a matter of coincidence that very recently an amazing new book was launched that did the unthinkable – but the two words Fashion and Steel together in the title. Unthinkable? Really? Well, we think otherwise and those art lovers who are steel and materials oriented will find this to be a great addition to their libraries. Read on…

A gloriously illustrated volume that looks at the remarkable armor of a key Habsburg commander and its relationship to contemporary Renaissance fashion
This sumptuously illustrated book celebrates a curious masterpiece of German Renaissance art–the Landsknecht armor of Wilhelm von Rogendorf (1523). Recently conserved to its original glory, this magnificent suit of armor, made for a trusted courtier, diplomat, and commander of infantry units for the Habsburgs, deceives the eye: the steel sleeves drape in graceful folds, with cuts in the surface, suggesting the armor is made from cloth rather than metal. The author of this fascinating volume explores the question: why does the armor look this way?
Stefan Krause delves back five centuries to the political, social, and cultural context in which von Rogendorf lived. Among other key venues in the Holy Roman Empire, this story takes the reader to the court of Emperor Charles V in Spain and to Augsburg, the leading center of armor making, where Rogendorf was introduced to the court armorer of Charles V, Kolman Helmschmid (1471-1532). Helmschmid was famous for his inventive and masterfully sculptured works, and this book elaborates on his unique contributions to the history of armor, and how and why von Rogendorf’s suit was informed by contemporary fashion.
From the book description

This wonderfully illustrated book is not very widely available and therefore please plan ahead if you intend to buy or gift it.

History Religious Renaissance Uncategorized

Painted Glories: The Brancacci Chapel in Renaissance Florence by Nicholas A. Eckstein

Post author By Art Ride
Post date February 19, 2015

Hello readers, our selection of this month delves right into the heart of Renaissance with this uplifting work from Nicolas A. Eckstein.

In 1440, on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Florence unexpectedly defeated Milanese forces near the town of Anghiari in eastern Tuscany. Nicholas A. Eckstein reveals the impact of this celebrated victory on Florentine public life and how it could have triggered the custodians of the Brancacci Chapel, the Carmelite friars, to seek the completion of frescoes by Masolino (c.1383–c.1436) and Masaccio (1401–c.1428). Today, tens of thousands of people visit the Brancacci Chapel annually to gaze at the brilliant frescoes of Saint Peter’s life. Universally recognized as a canonical masterpiece of the Florentine Renaissance, these glowing murals span the interior in long panels. The first serious examination to position the frescoes at the heart of Tuscan society and culture, Painted Glories teems with fascinating characters and intrigue. In swiftly paced prose, Eckstein explores the chapel’s history, medieval culture, and art patronage, progressively peeling back the story’s layers amid the tumultuous politics of the 15th-century Florentine state.
From the book description

This is an amazing visual exploration of the era and the masterpieces. The book is now available at all leading bookstores. Hope you will enjoy it.

Until next month, good bye!