Renaissance Greats

[poliphilo]

Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael- the holy trinity of Renaissance art: that's what we've been taught.  And why?  Because Vasari said so.  But suppose the first great history of Western art had been written by a German instead of an Italian. How does Durer, Cranach and Holbein sound?

Comments

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

They sound a lot more reality-based to me! O those flowery Italians (blech).

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It bears thinking about.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me and if I want Italian names, they tend to come from an earlier period.

The Lorenzetti brothers, Cimabue, Martini.......................

It's a mystery why anyone listens to Vasari anyway- failed artist!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've never read Lives of the Artists but I believe it's full of good stories.

I like your alternative universe...

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

"Durer, Cranach, Holbein - three ninja turtles with a taste for Bratwurst." Sounds good! (Brueghel can be Donatello.)

Re: I like your alternative universe...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Cowabunga!

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I actually prefer the German artists, particularly Holbein and Durer, for similar reasons,and that in my opinion, their art has more depth to it.

Re: I like your alternative universe...

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHA! Pass the bratwurst.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Durer's art has a similar range to Leonardo's and- by concentrating on print-making- he made it widely accessible. Holbein is the greatest portraitist who ever lived.