From Library Journal
This massive work by Oppenheimer (a former lecturer at Lincoln Coll., Oxford) is a detailed geographic guide to Italy's archaeological, architectural, and artistic treasures. Five volumes arranged by region and province provide historical facts and descriptive observations about 3500-plus sites and, in the case of museums, highlights of their collections. Even the aquarium in Venice is mentioned. Each of the first five volumes begins with a brief historical overview of the region, though unfortunately an art history overview is lacking. The work is illustrated with black-and-white photographs taken by the author and includes general maps intended for use in conjunction with road maps. Italian names are used, and those unfamiliar with architectural terminology can consult the glossary in Volume 6. Also included in the last volume are a biographical index of architects and artists (which is not restricted to Italians), a brief historical time line up to 1870, a list of Roman emperors, tips on Italian pronunciation, and a comprehensive index of places. Each of the other volumes also contains its own index of places as well as an index of architects and artists. The work is aimed at nonexperts but is also intended as a comprehensive gazetteer. While it is obviously too big and expensive to serve as an ordinary sight-seeing guide, it is recommended for major Italy enthusiasts with private collections and for large research libraries.
Anna Youssefi, Rice Univ. Lib., Houston
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Anna Youssefi, Rice Univ. Lib., Houston
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
Italy has the world's richest concentration of archaeological and architectural sites which, with its museums, makes the country the most extraordinary repository of works of art. From the enigmas of the pre-classical sites and artifacts, the beauty and serene power of Greek and Roman work, the massive yet beautiful Romanesque basilicas shading into Gothic, the glories of the Renaissance and its exaggerated modifications in Mannerism, the restrained extravagance of the Baroque to the cold elegance of the Neoclassical, Italy holds an incomparable storehouse of wonders-all of which are covered in detail in this major new work. Based on the author's 40 years of first-hand research, travel, and study in Italy, this magisterial six-volume illustrated work lists and describes, region by region, with authoritative texts and often accompanied by photographs, Italy's vast array of classical monuments, churches, museums, monasteries, cathedrals, palaces, villas, and fortresses, describing their architectural features, artistic contents and historical significance. The first five volumes cover more than 3,500 sites spanning 96 provinces. The sixth volume functions as a cultural encyclopedia of Italian architecture and art, providing biographical sketches of architects, artists and patrons, major themes and frequently discussed subjects, artistic styles, technical, architectural and artistic terms, techniques and materials, as well as relevant Italian words and expressions.
