Goya and the Duchess of Alba (Pegasus Library)

Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism

Goya and the Duchess of Alba (Pegasus Library) Details

From Library Journal These two volumes follow 25 others in the "Pegasus Library" series, advertised as presenting "the passions that drive the masters." Waldmann, a Spanish art specialist, delves into the suspicion some people have entertained over the centuries that Francisco de Goya and one of his patrons, the 13th Duchess of Alba, had an adulterous relationship. Some intriguing paintings, drawings, and prints produced in the 1790s suggest that perhaps they did, but the salacious quotes from a romantic novel and a final image of the duchess's exhumed and decayed corpse are more suited to a tabloid. In contrast, Zollner (art history, Univ. of Leipzig) uses Sandro Botticelli's art to explore virtuous love within marriage. He discusses the intended usage of the paintings in Italian bridal chambers and cites classical and Renaissance literary references for his analysis of iconographic motifs in "La Primavera," "Birth of Venus," and several other paintings. Translated from German, the text of both books flows clearly; they are sturdily constructed, and the color illustrations complement the text well. Certain aspects, however, such as the slender physical format and dust jackets with erotic spine and cover designs, suggest that these books are intended for gift-giving or collecting rather than purchase by libraries. The exception would be libraries that acquire every title on a particular artist.?Anne Marie Lane, American Heritage Ctr., Laramie, WYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more Language Notes Text: English (translation) Original Language: German Read more

Reviews

This book collects details from a range of sources, most of them contemporary, about the relationship between Goya and the Duchess of Alba. The text focuses on the few but important years of Goya’s life when he was close with the Duchess, her influence on his work and what evidence there is that they may or may not have had a physical relationship. The text is artfully succinct, realistic, and balanced where many others have simply assumed a torrid romance. More important perhaps is the influence the Duchess of Alba cast over Goya’s work, which is thoughtfully explored here. The text is not long, but amply covers their relationship, more thoroughly than most other sources.The book itself is a fine edition, with high-quality binding, unusually thick, smooth pages and numerous illustrations. A very worthwhile find.

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