Lives of the Artists

Giorgio Vasari on Bellini, Raphael, and Michelangelo

Getty senior curator Davide Gasparotto explores three of Giorgio Vasari’s Lives

Lives of the Artists

Giorgio Vasari on Bellini, Raphael, and Michelangelo

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The Life of Michelangelo book cover

By James Cuno

Jun 27, 2018 45:42 min

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Giorgio Vasari’s book Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects from Cimabue to Our Times, first published in 1550, is widely considered to be the ideological foundation of the discipline of art history.

In this episode, senior curator of paintings Davide Gasparotto discusses the structure and history of Vasari’s Lives and explores three biographies in particular—those of Giovanni Bellini, Raphael, and Michelangelo. These texts have recently been republished as individual books in Getty Publications’ new Lives of the Artists series.

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The Lives of Giovanni Bellini publication
The Life of Raphael publication
The Life of Michelangelo publication

The Life of Raphael book cover
Lives of Giovanni Bellini book cover
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