Add to cart

Across five conversations that comprise this volume, in the words of Federico Zeri the Arch of Constantine becomes the paradigm for a broad look at...

Across five conversations that comprise this volume, in the words of Federico Zeri the Arch of Constantine becomes the paradigm for a broad look at civilisations throughout history and their forms of artistic expression: drawing from an inexhaustible repertoire of art, from the most famous pieces to lesser known – but not for this reason poor – works, the author constantly stimulates new and fascinating “short-circuits” among the most diverse fields of knowledge, demonstrating how much a philological approach to artistic data is nothing more than a starting point for a better understanding of human history.
In this way, a work of art becomes a mirror not only of the civilisation which produced it, but also projects itself onto later epochs that in their turn give the work different readings: an expression of their own no less important taste and sensibility. In this way, the ancient world overflows into the Middle Ages and from there to the modern and contemporary age.
This is a rare and brilliant text by that “inimitable conversationalist, that powerful and penetrating voice we miss so much today” (Salvatore Settis).

Federico Zeri (1921-1998) is considered one of the most important historians of Italian art. He was visiting professor at Harvard University in Cambridge and Columbia University in New York, and was editor of the catalogues of the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore (1976) and the Metropolitan Museum of New York (1971, 1973, 1980, 1986); he was also an important contributor to the setting up of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. His numerous publications include Pittura e Controriforma (1957), Due dipinti, la filologia e un nome. Il maestro delle Tavole Barberini (1961), Diari di lavoro (1971, 1976), Dietro l’immagine (1987), and Orto aperto (1990).
His knowledge of the Italian artistic heritage was profound; he was its scrupulous and anti-conformist champion. In addition to theory, he was also a scholar of the material in art works. In 1993 he became vice-president of the National Heritage Council and in 1997 he became Academic of France.

The catalogue is available at the bookstore in via Torino 61, Milan and from 6 October 2004 in all Italian bookshops.