Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy: Revised Edition

by Francis Ames-Lewis

During the fifteenth century drawing developed from a subsidiary role in the production of finished paintings to an art form in its own right. In this beautiful book, Francis Ames-Lewis examines the works of the major draughtsmen of the century―Pisanello, Jacopo Bellini, Pollaiuolo, Ghirlandaio, Carpaccio, and Leonardo―in order to discuss the new types of drawing that evolved. “Ames-Lewis’s insight into his chosen subject-matters is impressive; so is his simple and lucid presentation. His enthusiasm and real feeling for these early draughtsmen are very infectious and will no doubt commend this book as a kind of primer for students.”―Keith Andrews, Times Literary Supplement “An important statement of theory about the drawing’s emergence as a finished and autonomous work of art; it also offers succinct and enlightening description of the purposes, technique and limitations of drawings in silverpoint, pen and ink, chalk and brush, and as such it will assist and educate every collector concerned with this field.”―Godfrey Baker, The Connoisseur “This pioneering book . . . makes a persuasive case for the study of drawing as vital to a fuller understanding of Early Renaissance art.”―Eve King, Art Book Review

Genres: Art, Art History

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2000

Reviews

[Nazanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I’ve learned from this book is “Behind every successful man a woman with incredible ideas stands”.
Judging from the title I expected to read some kind of hush hush love story about leonardo and Isabella but thankfully before arriving my book I have been found the subject is more about work relationship of these two pairs. So I had time to adjust my mindset.
The book deeply analysed the causes of why Isabella d’Este wanted 1: a portrait of hers by LDV & 2: wanted an other of his masterpiece. And apparently she was indeed very patient and so demanding of him that she absolutely behaved differently with him.
the book starts by explaining how Isabella presented her collections and then continue the style of book as kind of same regard to build its reasons towards how their relationships upon Isabella’s bids shaped LDV’s professional life and apparently his future as must valuable/expensive painter. And why Isabella’s scratch portrait is different.