Casanova: The Seduction of Europe

by Frederick Ilchman (Editor), Thomas Michie (Contributor), Meredith Chilton (Contributor)

From the salon to the the world of Casanova as seen through the art of his era In 18th-century Europe, while the old order reveled in the luxurious excesses of the Rococo style and the Enlightenment sowed the seeds of revolution, the shapeshifting libertine Giacomo Casanova seduced his way across the continent. Although notorious for the scores of amorous conquests he recorded in his remarkably frank memoirs, Casanova was just as practiced at charming his way into the most elite social circles, through an inimitable mix of literary ambition, improvisational genius and outright fraud. In his travels across Europe and through every level of society from the theatrical demimonde to royal courts, he was also seduced by the visual splendors he encountered. This volume accompanies the first major art exhibition outside Europe to lavishly recreate Casanova’s visual world, from his birthplace of Venice, city of masquerades, to the cultural capitals of Paris and London and the outposts of Eastern Europe. Summoning up the people he met and the cityscapes, highways, salons, theaters, masked balls, boudoirs, gambling halls and dining rooms he frequented, it provides a survey of important works of 18th-century European art by masters such as Canaletto, Fragonard, Boucher, Houdon and Hogarth, along with exquisite decorative arts objects. Twelve essays by prominent scholars illuminate multiple facets of Casanova’s world as reflected in the arts of his time, providing a fascinating grand tour of Europe conducted by a quintessential figure of the 18th century as well as a splendid visual display of the spirit of the age.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

343 pages, Hardcover

Published September 26, 2017

Reviews

[Emmaline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a delight to savor. It was a great follow up to seeing the Casanova focused exhibit at the Legion of Honor a few years ago. My only criticism is that 1. some sections don't have cohesion within the context of the whole book - topics or stories are mentioned in some sections later on that are introduced as if for the first time, but have actually already been covered in an earlier section, just in less detail 2. The format for the historical citations was unfamiliar to me as a non-historian (e.g. H __:__ ), so I was unsure of why some things were in the back indexes and others weren't.

[Margaryta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly less in-depth/academic than I would've personally liked, with some chapters like the one on textiles being particularly sparse and general. At the same time, the catalogue really does act more as an introduction than as an authoritative work on the subject, for better or for worse. Has a nice narrative tone that makes it easy to follow along, though again, the objects included in the catalogue/exhibition could've been better contextualized within the essays themselves.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always nice to delve into the 18th Century after you've been away from it awhile. Particularly when it pertains to such an interesting personality like Giacomo Casanova.
The book, a series of essays, itself is profusely illustrated with photos of art, furniture, porcelain,clothing and personalities that touched on the life of this unique character that was Casanova. His travels throughout Europe had him rubbing elbows with the like of Madame Pompadour, Benjamin Franklin, Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great, Voltaire and Rousseau. But the man "behind the mask" was really the seducer, the gambler, orchestra fiddler, debtor and "bon vivant" who has come down to us through history. The book will surprise you. The Age of Enlightenment was much more "saucy" than you might have thought. His "Memoirs" from what I gather should be added to my reading list!

[Sjors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book about the art environs of the Europe that Casanova inhabited.