Stefano Zuffi Books

Born in 1571 and dead before he was forty, Caravaggio is considered one of the great Italian masters. He developed a revolutionary painting style, easily recognizable for its unprecedented realism and approachability. This book reveals his paintings as never before, showing them in stunning, full-page details. It is organized around nine thematic chapters, such as still-lifes, the five senses, severed heads, body and skin, and speaking gestures. By explaining the significance of the individual details, art historian Stefano Zuffi provides us with new insights into the work of the brilliant Italian painter. Written in a clear and accessible language, this book guides readers through Caravaggio's oeuvre whilst offering astonishing views of his most popular works, including Bacchus, Medusa, David and Goliath, Judith and Holofernes and The Fortune Teller.

Crowned the 'Prince of Painters' by Giorgio Vasari, Raphael (1483-1520) counts as one of the most popular artists of the Italian Renaissance. Famous for his serene and harmonious Madonnas and his work at the Vatican Palace, he was an extremely influential painter during and after his lifetime. Raphael was hired by Pope Julius II as his chief architect and his first commission was to decorate the papal apartments at the Vatican in 1509. Today these rooms attract visitors from all over the world. Raphael in Detail shows his masterpieces as never before, in beautiful details. Art historian and specialist of the Italian Renaissance Stefano Zuffi takes the reader on a surprising voyage into Raphael's life and work, travelling from one detail to another. The book is organized thematically and includes a biography and an annotated list of works.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) is considered one of the greatest painters of all times. Often described as the archetype of the homo universalis, he was a true Renaissance polymath, active in fields as diverse as astronomy, painting, sculpting, science, mathematics, engineering, cartography and architecture. Leonardo's true genius was not as a scientist or an artist, but as a combination of the two: his painting was based on a deep understanding of the workings of the human body and the physics of light and shade. Only two dozens of works are attributed to the Florentine master and this book reveals them as never before, in stunning, full-page details. Leonardo in Detail is organized in thematic chapters, exploring the smiles, gestures, children, animals and nature depicted in the painter's works. Stefano Zuffi plays the perfect guide, explaining the significance of every detail in clear and accessible language, and offering original insights into Leonardo's most popular works, such as the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and The Lady with an Ermine.

This generously illustrated volume on the work of Durer makes the world's greatest art accessible to readers of every level of appreciation.

Filled with great masterpieces by such artists as Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Masaccio, Piero della Francesca, Mantegna, and Titian, How to Read Italian Renaissance Painting takes the reader into their world. As in the internationally successful and innovative How to Read a Painting, each spread uses an important painting as a way to explain a key concept, with numerous large details. Here, 180 works illuminate key ideas in Renaissance painting, from "perpective" and "the golden section" to "grace" and "symbolism." In addition, there are brief biographies of the major artists. The result is an original, accessible, and affordable volume that offers an introduction into the art and culture of the Italian Renaissance.

In the sixteenth century, the humanist values and admiration for classical antiquity that marked the early Renaissance spread from Italy throughout the rest of the continent. Part of the Art through the Centuries series, this volume is divided into three sections that discuss the important people, concepts, and artistic centres of this period.

This generously illustrated volume on the work of Caravaggio makes the world's greatest art accessible to readers of every level of appreciation.

Details becomes a clue, a stimulus for reconstructing messages and circumstances, exploring hidden, forgotten and secret contents of famous art masterpieces.

In viewing the great works of sacred Western art, many people find difficulty in understanding the stories and identifying the figures portrayed in them. This informative guide decodes these often-mysterious scenes and reveals a vibrant world of images from the Christian tradition for museum visitors, students, and art enthusiasts alike. Gospel Figures in Art examines depictions of stories and figures from both the New Testament's canonical gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the apocryphal gospels (early Christian writings excluded from the New Testament because of their unsubstantiated authorship), which served as rich sources of inspiration for medieval and Renaissance artists. Illustrated with masterpieces from many of the world's premier museums, the art works provided as visual references are carefully analyzed. Sections are devoted to the principal figures in the life of Jesus Christ-his family and the evangelists-and to the major biographical turning points: his birth and baptism, his public life, the miracles and good deeds he performed, his crucifixion, resurrection, and the events that followed. This indispensable resource makes the icons and narratives of sacred art come to life.

Analyzes the most important people, places, and concepts of the early Renaissance period, whose explosion of creativity was to spread throughout Europe in the 16th century. In this book, important facts are called out in the margins of each entry, and key elements are pointed out on each illustration.