Gabriele Finaldi is a distinguished curator and art historian whose expertise lies in Italian and Spanish painting. His scholarship delves deeply into the Baroque period, iconography, and artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Zurbarán. Finaldi's work is characterized by its keen analytical insight into artworks and their historical contexts. He has curated significant exhibitions and authored scholarly articles that enrich our understanding of European art.
Exploring the life, imagery and lasting appeal of Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), this landmark book features a core of important historic paintings representing the saint by Giotto, Sassetta, Caravaggio, Zurbaran and El Greco.
Rather than presenting a life of Christ in art, this book explores the challenges facing artists when representing Jesus - God who became a man. It traces how the image of Christ that we recognize today evolved over two millennia, from the earliest metaphorical symbols of the Shepherd, the Lamb, and the Vine to the emergence of a 'true likeness'.
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez (1599-1660) was born in Seville, Spain, the oldest of six children. This book explores Velazquez's universal popularity. Accompanying a major exhibition at the National Gallery, London, it contextualises the artist's work and discusses his influence. It includes a catalogue and chronology.