The Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from Antiquity to the Modern Age
39.99 €
In stock
The Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from Antiquity to the Modern Age
39.99 €
Historian Mary Beard, author of the bestselling book "SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome," takes us on a captivating journey through 2,000 years of Roman emperors' influence on European art and even politics. This beautifully illustrated book offers a journey through European art history from Antiquity to the present day. Beard explores the formation of the pictorial "canon" of the Twelve Caesars, then traces how it was reinterpreted, modified, and, intentionally or not, misrepresented, confusing the emperors, their wives, and mothers. The author reveals every element of her "detective" investigation, which has solved numerous mysteries and errors in art history. Beard reconstructs celebrated series of paintings and tapestries that have vanished forever and reveals the true identity of a number of works.
But the book's central question is why, and for what purpose, did artists and clients repeatedly turn to images of the Caesars after the Roman Empire had long since ceased to exist? Was it a passion for collecting? A political statement? Instead of the proverbial "ceremonial" display of imperial personages, Mary Beard offers us a profound reading of the most complex portraits of power ever created by the great masters—Titian and Veronese, Mantegna and Memling... right up to the conceptual works of our contemporaries. At the same time, the author casts a new light on seemingly simple and understandable works by entire generations of weavers, cabinetmakers, goldsmiths, and engravers.
But the book's central question is why, and for what purpose, did artists and clients repeatedly turn to images of the Caesars after the Roman Empire had long since ceased to exist? Was it a passion for collecting? A political statement? Instead of the proverbial "ceremonial" display of imperial personages, Mary Beard offers us a profound reading of the most complex portraits of power ever created by the great masters—Titian and Veronese, Mantegna and Memling... right up to the conceptual works of our contemporaries. At the same time, the author casts a new light on seemingly simple and understandable works by entire generations of weavers, cabinetmakers, goldsmiths, and engravers.
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series Historical interest