From Flanders to Florence: The Impact of Netherlandish Painting, 1400-1500 FROM THE PUBLISHER
This innovative book presents a fresh view of fifteenth-century Netherlandish art and the significance of its contributions to contemporary Italian art, notably in such areas as oil painting, landscape and portraiture. Focusing on Florence, a prime centre of renaissance culture, the book explores for the first time the profound impact of Netherlandish works on Italian painters, including Leonardo, Botticelli, Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio.
Paula Nuttall discusses Italian ownership of Netherlandish paintings in the fifteenth century and the shared artistic concerns of Florentine and Netherlandish painters. She examines in depth the various means by which artistic contact occurred, the activities of Florentine merchants in Bruges, the growth in demand for Netherlandish art in Florence, and the holdings of the Medici and other collectors. With particular emphasis on the period 1460 to 1500, when the vogue for Netherlandish painting was at its height, the author shows that the consequences of Italian exposure to Netherlandish art were far more sweeping than has been previously understood.
SYNOPSIS
Neglected, but now gaining acknowledgment, the important role of Netherlandish painting in renaissance Italy is ripe for study, and Nuttall (Victoria & Albert Museum, and other UK institutions) has made it her specialty. In this beautifully produced volume (oversize: 9.5x11.5") she discusses Italian ownership of Netherlandish paintings in the 15th century, shared artistic concerns, and the various means by which artistic contact occurred. Her study is abundantly illustrated throughout. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
British art historian Nuttall developed her Ph.D. dissertation into this beautifully illustrated, scholarly work. It presents 15th-century artistic, cultural, and commercial interrelationships between the Low Countries famous for Flemish Gothic art and the city of Florence, renowned for its Italian art. Counter to the traditional view that Italian art so influenced northern Europe, Nuttall proposes just the opposite. Wealthy families like the Medici played a significant role in the patronage of Netherlandish artists, while Italian merchants in Bruges sent paintings back home. The particular Flemish style of depicting religious devotion and the exquisite oil technique of portraying sumptuous details of clothing and interiors directly impacted Italian artists. Religious painting had great importance in both the Netherlands and Italy at this time, and it is this genre that Nuttall studies, including the impressive altar pieces designed for Catholic churches. Portraiture skills are evident in the imaginary portrayals of heavenly figures as well as the realistic documentations of 15th-century donors. Landscape perspective provides earthly background settings for the religious scenes. Recommended for academic and art museum libraries.-Anne Marie Lane, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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