Caravaggio

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Book about a PHENOMENAL artist!!
Review: Anything showing photos of this fellow's incredible oevre would probably deserve the highest praise even without editorial guidance. But just browsing thru this one will stun anyone not familiar with Caravaggio, which is probably 98% of the populace.Ms. Puglisi interweaves the artist's life and times around the glorious color photos. The print may be a tad small,but the fact that there's around two spaces between each line of text makes it, IMHO, even easier to read than otherwise. The raw,harrowing originality of this artist are beyond description, and his life is a near match. He died violently before the age of 40...Especially recommended for those (mainly males) who may think that Art and Art History are less than manly pursuits!! (Yes there are plenty of guys out there who think like this.) Give this book, the author,publisher, and the artist way more than five stars!!

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous and innovative!
Review: I disagree with the reviewer from Illinois. Since when does an art book have to follow a set design in typeface? I found the book to be eminently readable; in fact it's downright irresistible. The overall design (the silver script is not something to take umbrage over, but rather, makes the package that much more alluring), double page color plates, and the author's groundbreaking discoveries about my favorite artist persuade me that this is a great book! I certainly was not disappointed after all the hype prior to its publication.

Rating:
Summary: A valuable contribution but print is hard to read.
Review: I have been looking for recent books on Caravaggio for use in an art history class that I will give this Spring. I've done "spot" reading of this text, and found fascinating insights. However, it is hard for me to understand why such difficult to read silvery grey text was used. Perhaps younger eyes than mine would not have problems with this choice. However, my eyes rebelled rapidly, and although fascinated with the message, the medium proved exhausting. The font choice and size are also, in my opinion, poor ones. I suppose the aim was to produce a beauiful book, and it is that, but in my opinion the book's function of transmitting information is undercut by the odd typography design.

Rating:
Summary: A valuable contribution but print is hard to read.
Review: I have been looking for recent books on Caravaggio for use in an art history class that I will give this Spring. I've done "spot" reading of this text, and found fascinating insights. However, it is hard for me to understand why such difficult to read silvery grey text was used. Perhaps younger eyes than mine would not have problems with this choice. However, my eyes rebelled rapidly, and although fascinated with the message, the medium proved exhausting. The font choice and size are also, in my opinion, poor ones. I suppose the aim was to produce a beauiful book, and it is that, but in my opinion the book's function of transmitting information is undercut by the odd typography design.

Rating:
Summary: Superb color plates, appalling design
Review: I ordered this book sight unseen, eager for a new work on Caravaggio and excited by the description of color plates on double-page spreads. The book arrived this week, and the color is just grand. Unfortunately I can say nothing about the text, because the designers at Phaidon Press were allowed to specify small sans-serif type, printed in silver grey on fairly glossy paper, so that the text is not really readable, at least by me and the colleagues who've also seen the book. Given Catherine Puglisi's previous work, I am sure the text is excellent, and I'm terribly disappointed that it's almost illegible. Shame on Phaidon Press--they've done the book and the author, and their would-be readers, a genuine disservice.

Rating:
Summary: Size does matter
Review: I picked up this book a while back when it first came out. I couldn't put it down. As a figurative artist, learning about Caravaggio is a most. Ms. Puglisi's language is down to earth. The book is extremely well presented, including the high quality plates. Unfortunately, some people have complained about the small gray print which makes it hard to read. The print is not an obstacle when you immerse yourself in the life, painting technique and history of this most interesting artist.

Rating:
Summary: This is a Review of the HARD COVER BOOK
Review: I picked up this book a while back when it first came out. I couldn't put it down. As a figurative artist, learning about Caravaggio is a most. Ms. Puglisi's language is down to earth. The book is extremely well presented, including the high quality plates. Unfortunately, some people have complained about the small gray print which makes it hard to read. The print is not an obstacle when you immerse yourself in the life, painting technique and history of this most interesting artist.

Rating:
Summary: Size does matter
Review: If you can't have the real thing, get the Quadrifolio. Who would think that a book this manageable in size would unfold to reveal the huge images that it does? I don't want to go back to my average, oversized art books. This series is great for students, art-lovers, and anyone else who wants to take a closer look at fine paintings.

Rating:
Summary: In depth critique on the art and life of an absolute master
Review: The book is beautifully presented and thoroughly enjoyable to read. Phaidon has created not only a full report on the private life of this artist but also an in depth critique of his paintings. A most for any serious artist.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging and informative
Review: The lavish reproductions of Caravaggio's work here are reason enough to get this lovely book. The text is engrossing, and can be easily read in 1-2 weeks. Caravaggio's life and work are both dealt with very well by Catherine Puglisi, and the writing is quite good. On the other hand, the silvery text is pretty, but clearly not functional for people with less than good sight. The book is also on the smallish side (Phaidon does not seem to make the really huge books like Abbeville or Abrams).