I recently read Mark Twain's The Innocents Abroad, which I highly recommend. It often felt like I was reading the template for all the humorous travel books I'd ever read.

Anyway, here are three quotes about art appreciation I could relate to. They make a nice counterpoint to all the Vasari quotes.

( Three quotes )

Since the very last Life in Vasari's book is his own, I've saved his quotes about himself for the end.

( Ten quotes )

Nine more quotes about Michelangelo.

( Including another tale of papal drama )

As far as Vasari is concerned, Michelangelo is far and away the best artist who ever lived, beating out all ancients and moderns alike. Of all the artists covered in Vasari's book, Michelangelo gets the longest Life, stretching to 150 pages or so. Even Vasari's own Life is only about 50 pages. To be sure, Vasari manages to put a lot of details and ( Read more... )

Nine more quotes from Vasari judging artworks and artists.

Incidentally, T minus 3 entries after this one till I finish my Vasari series. (And you thought it would be never-ending.)

( Three quotes on general recommendations )

Obviously, as both an artist and an art historian, Vasari had some opinions to offer on art.

( Two quotes on dissing the Middle Ages )

Vasari's book was full of little glimpses of what life was like back in the Renaissance. It was these glimpses that kept me going through the endless lists of altarpieces and frescoes.

Some things are surprisingly similar, but others are, of course, different.

( Two quotes on city living )

Vasari no doubt considered himself an artist first, a writer second, and a philosopher not at all; but he nonetheless has some gems of wisdom to offer.

( A quote on the most enviable career path )

I've heard that Mel Brooks made a point of including at least one reference to the Nazis in all of his movies so that no one would ever forget about the Holocaust ( Read more... )

In describing the subjects of various artworks, Vasari mentions offhandedly many legends of saints and Biblical figures that he evidently takes for granted, but which struck me as new and exotic. I may have gone to Catholic school K through 12, but they didn't teach us any of these ( Read more... )