An accessible life of the fifteenth-century painter and instructor of Michelangelo. Domenico Ghirlandaio (1448–94) was a master of Renaissance art, celebrated for his vivid frescoes and detailed portraits. Teacher to Michelangelo and admired by Lorenzo de’ Medici, Ghirlandaio’s work reflects the vibrant artistic culture of fifteenth-century Florence. This book examines Ghirlandaio’s career in the context of the craft traditions, guilds, and workshops that shaped his art. It also analyses his famous works, such as the Santa Maria Novella frescoes and the portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni, revealing the creative and technical processes behind them. By uncovering the social and cultural influences on Ghirlandaio’s art—including family ties and religious affiliations—the book offers a rich portrait of an artist whose work continues to inspire today.
Jean K. Cadoganis professor of fine arts at Trinity College. Her books include
Domenico Ghirlandaio: Artist and Artisan.
"Written by the leading Ghirlandaio scholar,Domenico Ghirlandaio: An Elite Artisan and His Worldpresents a fresh interpretation of the renowned painter within the dynamic social and artistic networks of Renaissance Florence. Jean K. Cadogan vividly identifies his contributions to narrative, portraiture, and technique, confirming his importance to Italian art."
"Richly synthetic, gracefully written, and fully documented, Jean K. Cadogan’s biography of Ghirlandaio brings the enchanting Florentine artist alive in singular fashion. I know of no book that gives us such a full picture of the artist’s life and work in context. It is at once biography, art history, connoisseurship, iconography and art 'appreciation.' A pleasure to read."
Cadogan sheds light on this unjustly overlooked master in her new biography, which admirably situates Ghirlandal“o
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