A critique of Renaissance historiography : Wittkower's reconstruction of S. Sebastiano in Mantua

Author

Onians, John

Document type

Article (journal)

Language

English

Source

AA files. 1989, Num. 17, p. 9-14, 7 ill.; plans

ISSN

0261-6823

Abstract (en)

Expresses skepticism about Rudolf Wittkower's design of the facade of the church designed by Alberti in 1460, and introduces evidence illustrating how unnecessary it was to make such a reconstruction in the first place. Argues that the history of Renaissance art is likewise a reconstruction based on wrong assumptions, most notably that the Renaissance was a period when people were primarily concerned with the reconstruction of the ancient world. Cites evidence to support his contention that Alberti was more influenced by medieval writers on architecture than by Vitruvius.

Subject (en)

• General history of art -- 1400-1800 -- Architecture -- Italy
• Architecture
• Italy
• Renaissance
• S. Sebastiano||Mantova (ITA)
• Wittkower, Rudolf, 1901-1971
• Reconstruction [reassembly]
• Historiography
• Alberti, Leon Battista, 1404-1472
• 1400-1500
• Influence
• Ancient [art]
• Sources
• Vitruvius (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio), 1st c. B.C.
• Architectural theory
• Medieval
• Churches
• Facades
• Writings

Subject (fr)

• Histoire générale de l'art -- 1400-1800 -- Architecture -- Italie
• Architecture
• Italie
• Renaissance
• S. Sebastiano||Mantova (ITA)
• Wittkower, Rudolf, 1901-1971
• Reconstitution
• Historiographie
• Alberti, Leon Battista, 1404-1472
• 1400-1500
• Influence
• Antique (art)
• Sources
• Vitruve (Marcus Vitruvius Pollio), 1~e~r s. av. J.C.
• Théorie de l'architecture
• Moyen Age
• Eglise [édifice]
• Façade
• Ecrits

Origin

DatabaseBHA (Inist-CNRS/GRI)

Identifier19910401-00450610

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