Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy

During the fifteenth century drawing developed from a subsidiary role in the production of finished paintings to an art form in its own right. In Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy Francis Ames-Lewis examines the works of the major draughtsmen of the century—Pisanello, Jacopo Bellini, Pollaiuolo, Ghirlandaio, Carpaccio, and Leonardo—in order to discuss the new types of drawing that evolved.

“Ames-Lewis’s insight into his chosen subject-matters is impressive; so is his simple and lucid presentation. His enthusiasm and real feeling for these early draughtsmen are very infectious and will no doubt commend this book as a kind of primer for students.”—Keith Andrews, Times Literary Supplement

“An important statement of theory about the drawing’s emergence as a finished and autonomous work of art; it also offers succinct and enlightening description of the purposes, technique and limitations of drawings in silverpoint, pen and ink, chalk and brush, and as such it will assist and educate every collector concerned with this field.”—Godfrey Baker, The Connoisseur

“This pioneering book... makes a persuasive case for the study of drawing as vital to a fuller understanding of Early Renaissance art.”—Eve King, Art Book Review

Francis Ames-Lewis is lecturer in the history of art at Birkbeck College, University of London.