Filippo Lippi (The Library of Great Masters)
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Filippo Lippi (The Library of Great Masters) Details
Fra Filippo Lippi was an eccentric artist, whose behaviour was disreputable and dishonoured the monk's habit that he had worn ever since he was little more than a child. Lippi quarrelled with clients and workshop assistants, was constantly in trouble for being late in delivering his paintings, and was threatened with excommunication several times. Filippo Lippi examines the life of this controversial figure, citing the opinions of his contemporaries and patrons, such as Cosimo de'Medici. The critical appraisal of Fra Filippo is discussed at length, followed by an examination of his works, including his great fresco cycles in Prato and Spoleto, and the influence on his work of Flemish Art.
Reviews
This little book does not romanticize Filippo Lippi, despite his famous love affair with a beautiful young nun. It looks beyond the myth to carefully examine what made Filippo one of the most original and important artists of the Italian Quatrocento.The author discusses how Filippo's vigorous realism was fed not only by his independent nature, his scandalous lifestyle and his rebellion against all conventions, but also by the requirements of his patrons. The individuals and institutions he worked for are all listed.The artist's difficult personality comes alive, and his escapades are vividly described.The book analyzes a variety of paintings and frescoes, and reproductions are referenced with page numbers, so that the exposition is easy to follow. We read about the artists and art that influenced Filippo at various stages of his career, including Masaccio, Fra Angelico, Donatello, and Flemish and Hellenistic art.The scholarship seemed to me to be sound and up to date. The writing is clear and holds one's interest. The reproductions are good, though not dazzling. The typesetting of the text is not elegant, but very readable.If you are enchanted by the work of Filippo Lippi, as I am, I think you'll get a lot out of this little book.
