Bernini's Biographies

“Although there is more biographical writing on the incomparable Gian Lorenzo Bernini than on any other early modern artist, including Michelangelo), the investigation of these writings remains surprisingly incomplete. This fascinating and highly original book is therefore a welcome addition to the literature, for it both consolidates our present understanding of these biographies, which can be traced to Bernini himself, and raises important questions about these writings for future consideration. Bernini’s Biographies will therefore be of great interest to scholars of art history, literature, and the social history of art alike.”

—Paul Barolsky, University of Virginia

“In addition to bringing together various methodologies to bear upon the study of Bernini’s vite, this work also seeks to unravel the Gordian knot of the authorship of the biographies. . . . Taken as a whole, this collection of essays provides a series of departure points for future studies in the history of Bernini’s biographies, the life of Bernini himself, and artistic biography in general. . . . Despite the seeming contradiction between engaging closely with the history and genesis of Bernini’s biographies while simultaneously interrogating them from various literary, historical, and philological viewpoints, these essays are an immensely useful addition to the field.”

—Kristin A. Triff Renaissance Quarterly

“This is an important book that is essential reading for anyone engaged in the study of Bernini and the Baroque, and indeed a cautionary and exemplary tale for historians who take artists’ lives at face value. . . . Bernini’s Biographies is a challenging read but a rewarding one . . . [which] brings together and epitomises the problems and debates surrounding the construction of an artist as a historical and/or literary figure. It will prove useful for those interested in this difficult and complex area—the confluence of art history and literary theory.”

—Carol M. Richardson The Art Book

“As an edited volume of scholarly essays, this collection sets a new standard for excellence. The quality of all contributions is uniformly high—something that can rarely be said of such collections.”

—Sheila McTighe Oxford Art Journal