Croatia Aspects Of Art, Architecture And Cultural Heritage

Description

This volume is the first scholarly study in the English language of Croatia's extraordinary artistic heritage. Leading specialists analyse the key cultural developments in this small country's history, from the extensive Roman remains on the Adriatic coast, through the gothic splendour of the Dalmatian cities in the Middle Ages and intensive artistic exchange with Italy during the Renaissance, to the grand houses and art collections of continental Croatia. The essays address iconic monuments like Diocletian's palace at Split and the walled city of Dubrovnik alongside more unfamiliar treasures, some never published before. This books sets Croatia's cultural past in context, reflecting the country's unique history at the crossroads between Italy, Central Europe and the Mediterranean. With contributions by leading British, American and Croatian writers and scholars, including John Julius Norwich, Timothy Clifford, Marcus Binney, Brian Sewell and Sheila McNally this book presents for the first time a portrait of the culture of this captivating and too little known country.

Reviews

Marcus Binney's tour around old castles is quirky but rewarding while Brian Sewell demolishes the artistic credibility of the founder of Zagreb's newest museum with characteristic aplomb. From paintings to architecture, Croatia's well-illustrated riches in opinionated English. Sunday Telegraph As a general introduction, 'Croatia' could not be bettered. Historic Gardens Review Recommended reading. Art Quarterly A serious and major effort to redress the ignorance of Croatia's culture in the English speaking world... It is beautifully illustrated and is a must for those who wish to show their friend the rich cultural heritage of Croatia - and its contribution to that of Europe. New Generation

Author description

John Julius Norwich has written histories of Norman Sicily, Venice, Byzantium and the Mediterranean. As a former member of H.M. Foreign Service, he was posted to former Yugoslavia from 1955 to 1957 and knows Croatia well. Stjepan Cosic was born in 1964. He studied history and sociology at the University of Zadar and completed his doctorate at the University of Zagreb in 1988. He has worked as an archivist in the State Archives in Dubrovnik and as a researcher at the Institute for Historical Sciences in Dubrovnik. Since 2004 he has been Director of the Croatian State Archives in Zagreb. He lectures in graduate and doctoral studies in Zagreb and Dubrovnik, and has published several books and scientific papers. Dr Branko Kirigin is keeper of Greek and Hellenistic Antiquities at the Archaeological Museum in Split, Croatia. John Wilkes was born in 1936 at Reigate in England. After studies in Ancient History and Archaeology at University College London and the University of Durham, he taught these subjects in the Universities of Manchester, Birmingham and London. At retirement in 2001 he held the position of Yates Professor of Greek and Roman Archaeology at University College London. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, and of the Societies of Antiquaries of London and Scotland, and is Honorary Vice-President of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. He has undertaken historical and archaeological research in several regions of the Roman Empire but his main focus has been the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and his principal publications relate to that area, including Dalmatia (1969), Diocletian's Palace (1986) and The Illyrians (1992). Sheila J. McNally received her Ph.D. in art history from Harvard University. She has taught at Ohio State University, Mt. Holyoke College, and currently teaches at the University of Minnesota. Together with Jerko Marasovic, she directed excavations at Diocletian's Palace and has also excavated in Akhmim, Egypt. Besides books and articles on those excavations she has published studies of maenads and sleepers in Greek art, on monastic space, and on the Mary Silk in the Abegg Stiftung. She has served on the boards of the College Art Association and the Archaeological Institute of America. Christopher de Hamel has been Donnelley Fellow Librarian of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, since 2000. From 1975 to 2000 he was responsible for all sales of medieval and illuminated manuscripts at Sotheby's, London. He has written many books on medieval manuscripts and the history of book collecting. Donal Cooper is Assistant Professor in the History of Art Department at the University of Warwick. A specialist in the artistic patronage of the Franciscan Order in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, he has published widely on the art and architecture of the friars in Italy, particularly in Umbria. Donal is currently preparing a book on the Basilica of San Francesco at Assisi. David Ekserdjian has been Professor of History of Art and Film at the University of Leicester since 2004. Currently a Trustee of the National Gallery and of Tate, and a member of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, he is the author of numerous publications, including Correggio (1997), Parmigianino (2006) and Alle Origini della Natura Morta (2007). In 2004 he was made an Honorary Citizen of the town of Correggio. Sir Timothy Clifford was director of the National Galleries of Scotland for 21 years and before that he was director of Manchester City Art Galleries for six years. Previously he worked in the Victoria & Albert Museum (Ceramics Department) and the British Museum (Print Room). He has published widely in periodical literature on Italian Art and collaborated in mounting monographic exhibitions in Scotland on Raphael, Titian, Bernini and Canova. He is now retired and divides his time between homes in Italy and Scotland. Marcus Binney CBE is Architecture Correspondent to the Times of London and founder and President of SAVE Britain's Heritage. He is also co-presenter of the 39-part TV series Great Houses of Europe. He has written frequently on country houses from Portugal to Poland. His other title for Frances Lincoln is Croatia (ISBN 9780711229211). He lives in Jersey. Brian Sewell, born 1931, read History of Art at the Courtauld Institute and has ever since worked in the field of paintings by Old Masters. He is now the art critic of the London Evening Standard. Joško Belamarić, art historian and director of the Conservation Department of the Ministry of Culture at Split since 1992, is the author of books, studies and papers on art of the later antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Dalmatia. He has held the post of Professor in Iconology at the University of Zadar since 1985 and travels widely as a lecturer. For his scholarly and professional work, he has received several prestigious prizes and awards.