Sir Anthony Blunt was a distinguished British art historian whose academic career was overshadowed by his confession to espionage for the Soviet Union. His expertise lay in the analysis of artworks and art history, where he made significant contributions. The revelation of his involvement with the Cambridge Five espionage ring shocked the public and led to his downfall. Nevertheless, his scholarly work in the field of art history remains a subject of study.
This elegant and concise introduction to the baroque and its flowering in Rome was first published in an anthology of essays in 1978, not long before Blunt died, and represents a summation of his teaching. It is republished here separately, copiously illustrated with contemporary engraved views and measured drawings.
The focus is on republishing classic works from the early 1900s and earlier, which have become rare and costly. These modern editions aim to provide affordable access to the original text and artwork, ensuring that timeless literature remains available to contemporary readers.
This work seeks to broaden the comprehension of the student of Italian Renaissance painting by concentrating not on the works of art themselves, but on the various artistic theories which influenced them or were expressed by them. The text includes the writings of Michelangelo and Vasari.