Subject
Painting -- Early works to 1800 Books
Best books
Giorgio Vasari
Vasari on technique : $b Being the introduction to the three arts of design, architecture, sculpture, and painting. Prefixed to the lives of the most excellent painters, sculptors and architects
"Vasari on Technique: Being the Introduction to the Three Arts of Design" by Giorgio Vasari is a technical treatise on the arts of architecture, sculpture, and painting, written during the mid-16th century. This work provides a detailed methodology and analysis of various artistic processes, materials, and their applications, aimed at both practitioners and enthusiasts of the arts. In this treatise, Vasari seeks to educate readers on the complexities and practicalities of artistic creation, addressing the techniques and challenges faced by artists of his time. The opening of "Vasari on Technique" introduces the structure of the work and the various artistic domains it will cover. It begins with a preface explaining Vasari's intent to share knowledge about artistic techniques that have often been overlooked. He includes an account of the different types of stones used in architecture and sculpture, detailing their properties and methods of manipulation, with examples of ancient and contemporary works. The text sets a foundation for the technical discussions that follow, highlighting the artistic practices and materials that were essential to the High Renaissance, thus drawing readers into the rich, practical world of Renaissance artistry.
da Vinci Leonardo
El tratado de la pintura
"El tratado de la pintura" by Leonardo da Vinci is a collection of writings gathered from his notebooks between 1482 and 1499. Originally compiled by his heir Francesco Melzi and first published in abridged form in 1651, this treatise argues that painting is a science. Leonardo examines facial expressions, human emotion, and natural observations, including his famous branching rule about tree proportions. Drawing from earlier writers like Leon Battista Alberti, these manuscripts showcase Leonardo's scientific approach to understanding and teaching the art of painting.
Recently surfaced classics