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Still Life Before Still Life

Still Life Before Still Life

by Ekserdjian, David
No customer reviews yet ISBN 9780300190175

A beautiful book that argues artists were fascinated by still life painting considerably earlier than previously thought

This eloquent and generously illustrated book asserts that artists were fascinated by and extremely skilled at still life significantly earlier than previously thought. Instead of the genre beginning in the early 17th century, noted scholar David Ekserdjian explores its origins in classical antiquity and the gradual re-emergence of still life in Renaissance painting. The author presents a visual anthology of finely executed flowers, fruit, food, household objects, and furnishings seen in the background of paintings. Paintings are reproduced in full and paired with detailed close-ups of still-life elements within the work.

Ekserdjian further examines both the artistic and symbolic significance of a chosen detail, as well as information about each artist's career. Featured works include radiant paintings from Renaissance greats such as Da Vinci, Dürer, Holbein, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Van Eyck, as well as the work of less-celebrated masters Barthélemy d'Eyck and Ortolano.

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Product details

Pub dateMay 15, 2018
ISBN-100300190174
ISBN-139780300190175
LanguageEnglish
Last updated 2026-07-07 10:22
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