12/09/2013
The latest book from Witham (Picasso and the Chess Player) is a workmanlike examination of the early Renaissance polymath Piero, whose life and accomplishments are used to survey “the precipitous changes in art, religion, and science” in the painter’s time and beyond. The biographical sketch is necessarily rough and speculative (little is known about his life), but Witham accessibly reviews the Quattrocento’s intellectual, political, and religious climate, summarizing Christian Platonism, Alberti’s On Painting, and describing Piero as an artist who synthesized these ideas in paintings such as “The Flagellation of Christ.” In addition, Piero authored treatises on abacus mathematics, perspective, and geometrical shapes that would foreshadow the scientific revolution. Witham demonstrates how Piero’s art and contributions to mathematics were absorbed over the centuries following his death, and how he participated in the evolving discourse on art interpretation, beauty, and science. Occasionally the narrative can feel shapeless and long-winded, with Piero appearing as a mere footnote among waves of summaries of Kepler, Newton, Kant, Helmholtz, and many other philosophers, art historians, and scientists. However, the book’s journalistic flavor may appeal to readers and distinguishes it from existing literature on the artist. 16 pages of color illus. Agent: Laurie Abekemeier, Defiore & Company. (Feb.)
This study of Piero's impact reveals a mathematician and geometer who helped to bridge the way to Galileo.
Witham, a writer of many books on religion, science and philosophy, is the latest in a long line of Anglophone writers to fall under Piero's spell. ... [He] has done an impressive amount of research into the period and mastered the secondary sources.
Engaging. Witham describes scenes in cinematic detail, placing the reader in a vivid, clearly defined world. Bursting with history, rich characters, and anecdotes. A pleasurable, comprehensive read.
Larry Witham enlivens every page.
Witham provides an engaging side-by-side history of modern art's two figureheads. An engrossing account of both artists. Excellent and engrossing.
Recommended.
02/01/2014
Witham (By Design: Science and the Search for God; Art Schooled) follows two themes in this book. One is the "medieval synthesis," which existed before barriers among art, religion, and science were erected. The other is the Renaissance reconciliation between Greek Platonic philosophy and Christian religion. How these two themes influenced Piero and were influenced by him carry through the title. With only 16 of his artworks and three treatises surviving, Piero was virtually forgotten after his ignominious end; he was executed in 1468 by Pope Pius II for embezzling money from the papacy to buy manuscripts while he was a Vatican bookkeeper. He was rediscovered around 1850, when further study of his works began. As this review was completed from an advance reading copy, it is not possible to comment on the quality of the illustrations, which were in black and white; the published book will have 16 color images. VERDICT Witham has not written an art history; he has written a story that will draw readers' attention, compelling them to continue. For those interested in art, history, philosophy, sociology, or science.—Nancy J. Mactague, Aurora Univ. Lib., IL
2013-12-02
Cultural historian Witham (Picasso and the Chess Player: Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp and the Battle for the Soul of Modern Art, 2013, etc.) returns with a wide-ranging account of the life, work and legacy of Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca (1412–1492). The author writes that he was drawn to Piero because of the interplay of art, religion and science in his work, and throughout this illuminating treatment, he unwinds and examines each of these cultural threads. First, Witham examines Piero's life, a life, the author admits, whose details are hard to come by. (Iterations of "probably," "no doubt" and the like appear often.) Still, some key documents have emerged over the years, and the author follows Piero from his boyhood in Sansepolcro, Italy (60 miles from Florence), to Florence, Ferrara, Rome (where he did some work for the Vatican), Urbino and elsewhere. Witham notes that Piero was wont to take on more commissions than he could handle, sometimes taking years to fulfill agreements. The author also pauses periodically to describe and appreciate Piero's key artistic works--The Baptism of Christ, The Flagellation of Christ and others--as well as his various publications, including Abacus Treatise and On Perspective for Painting. The biographical focus on Piero ends about a third of the way through the volume (the artist died on the day Columbus arrived in the New World); in the remaining chapters, Witham deals with Piero's slow rediscovery--by art historians and collectors and, even more interestingly, by mathematicians and scientists. Throughout, the author deals with concepts of vision, light, beauty and mind, drawing on the works and theories of numerous philosophers (from the ancient to the present world), psychologists and neuroscientists to illuminate the various debates about the nature of reality and of the mind. A thorough account of an actual "Renaissance man"--in every way.
