Introduction to italian sculpture

This boxed set contains all three volumes of John Pope-Hennessy's work on Italian sculpture. Vol I covers the period from about 1150 to 1400. The sculptors dealt with include Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Arnolfo di Cambio, Andrea and Nino Pisano, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Jacopo della Quercia. The monuments illustrated include the great Pisano pulpits, the facades of the cathedrals of Siena, Florence and Orvieto, Milan Cathedral and S. Petronio at Bologna, the Scaliger tombs at Verona, the Angevin monuments in Naples and Ghiberti's famous door for the Baptistery in Florence. Volume II, spanning the 15th century, is dominated by the revolutionary genius of Donatello, whose work is illustrated. The author traces through this period the development, or revival of the free-standing statue, the relief, the bronze statuette, the equestrian monument and the portrait bust. Other great masters include Luca della Robbia, Verrocchio, Antonio Rossellino, Desiderio da Settignano, Riccio, Francesco Laurana and Tullio Lombardo. Volume III, ranging from 1500 to the late-17th century, begins and ends with two outstanding personalities: Michelangelo and Bernini. Michelangelo forged a new and ideal style, the development of which is traced in the work of Andrea and Jacopo Sansovino, Benvenuto Cellini, Giambologna, Pietro Tacca, Leone Leoni, Alessandro Vittoria and others. The author also describes the artistic problems presented by the statue, relief, portrait, tomb and fountain in the 16th century, culminating in the dramatic innovations of Bernini which ushered in the Baroque style. Each volume consists of an illustrative exposition followed by full scholarly bibliographies, notes to the plates and full indexes. The new edition of this work provides an accessible introduction to the subject for scholars, students and all lovers of Italian art. At the same time its scholarly notes make it a valuable reference work. Each volume can be enjoyed in its own right.