Lives of the Painters Boxed Set (Everyman's Library CLASSICS)

When one reads Vasari's Lives' one should consider that to criticise thebook for it's various weaknesses with bias and his emotive tones is toutterly miss the point of Vasari. The book is what it is, largely aprimary source of the Great Artists from Giotto to Titian. No new versioncan get away from this, to attempt to balance the books opinions would beto create a new and inaccurate version. When one considers THIS book oneshould merely consider the quality of this edition, which is excellent. Superbly put together and marvelously edited.

Giorgio Vasari's 'Lives of the Painters, Sculptors and Architects' provides a detailed account of the development of art since the time of Cimabue and Giotto. In particular, Vasari attempts to decribe and record the development of mannerist art by identifying three periods in the history of art, leading up to what he might describe as the moment of artisitc perfection, with the emergence of the Renaissance.However, for the modern reader, this work can prove a chore. Gaston de Vere appears to have provided a very precise translation of the 2nd edition (1568) of this work and whilst this authenticity in translation is to be encouraged, it does not assist with what can otherwise be a very dry and difficult read. Vasari has also been severally criticised for embellishing upon and evening disregarding the truth, whilst writing the 'Lives'.These criticisms are in part justified. However, they must also be made in context. One must remember that Vasari was himself hampered in this work, being plagued by the uncertainty and deficiency of the records of the individuals and works involved, as is perhaps best illustrated by his desire to create a second edition of his work, thirteen years after the first edition. In addition, any dryness might be forgiven when considering the subject matter, the style of writing popular of that period and given Vasari's attempts to record and often describe those known works by his subjects. Incidentally, I found the 'Lives' much more interesting and rewarding when I had the opportunity to view many of these works myself in Florence and to visit Vasari's house in Arezzo.I would concede that the 'Lives' is certainly not for the light-hearted. However, given Vasari's influential and active position within the Medici court during what is arguably the high point of the Renaissance, the 'Lives' reflects a contemporary record, and Vasari's own view, of the origins and development of Florentine and Italian art.