Venetian glass

Description

"Antonio Salviati (1816-1890) found run-down Venice fascinating and decided to move there in 1851. He soon found two similarly inspired allies - Muranese abbot and glass historian Vincenzo Zanetti (1824-1883) who longed to revive Venice's historic arts of mosaic-making and glass-blowing, and Antonio Colleoni (1810-1885), the Mayor of Murano, who wanted to resurrect the moribund industries in order to provide much needed employment for the people of his island. The author describes how they set about revitalizing a number of industries which had been sources of both great wealth and pride in the past." "The recovered art of Venetian glass mosaics in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century is now seen as one of the most important aesthetic achievements of the Victorian-Edwardian era. Whether on highly visible monuments in major cities or small parish churches, the mosaic achievements of Venetian manufacturers are now treasured for the splendid masterpieces they are and it is they that form the subject of this illustrated and informative book."--Jacket.

Description

In this, the first survey of late 19th- and early 20th-century Venetian glass, readers are treated to 100 color photographs of some of the finest glass ever created in modern times. Venetian glass artists were virtuosos, and their unique, peerless creations are among the glories of glassmaking. The works themselves - goblets, vases, decanters, and more, embellished with dragons, serpents, birds, and flowers - range from the breathtakingly delicate to the gaudy and outrageous. Presenting these fragile beauties is author Sheldon Barr, who gives a compelling account of the political battles, intrigues, and financial entanglements that surrounded the creation and production of Venetian glass, including the near-imprisonment of glass artisans on the tiny island of Murano. This forced seclusion resulted not only in closely guarded techniques but in objects that were distinctly of their own time and style. The popularity of Venetian glass in the mid-1800s hailed a renaissance in glassmaking and created an industry whose stature and output continue to this day.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Venetian glass: confections in glass, 1855-1914Harry N. Abrams1998-01-01
• Venetian GlassHardcoverAntique Collectors' Club, Ltd.2007-10-25