The Revival of the Olympian Gods in Renaissance Art

Description

In this study, Luba Freedman examines the revival of the twelve Olympian deities in the visual arts of sixteenth-century Italy. Renaissance representations of the Olympians as autonomous figures in paintings, sculpture and drawing were not easily integrated into a Christian society. While many patrons and artists venerated the ancient artworks for their artistic qualities, others, nourished by religious beliefs, felt compelled to adapt ancient representations to Christian subjects. These conflicting attitudes influenced the representation of deities intentionally made all'antica, often resulting in an interweaving of classical and non-classical elements that is alien to the original, ancient sources. This study, the first devoted to this problem, highlights how problematic it was during the Cinquecento to display and receive images of pagan gods, whether shaped by ancient or contemporary artists. It offers new insights into the uneven absorption of the classical heritage during the early modern era.

Luba Freedman is a scholar of Italian Renaissance art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has also been a Visiting Scholar at the American Academy in Rome and at the Center of Renaissance and Reformation Studies at Victoria College, University of Toronto. She is the author of The Classical Pastoral in the Visual Arts, Titian's Independent Self-Portraits and Titian's Portraits through Arentino's Lens. Freeman co-edited with Gerlinde Huber-Rebenich a book of essays, Wege zum Mythos. She is also on the advisory board of Renaissance Studies and The Sixteenth-Century Journal.

Review of the hardback: 'The text is densely argued and full of deep learning.' Journal of Classics Teaching 'The book has the merit of highlighting the importance of the Italian Renaissance art laboratory in transmitting and reworking ancient heritage. The problems addressed are at the crossroads between art history, cultural and social anthropology, history of archaeology, and history of religion. The very useful index is evidence of the richness and diversity of the subjects covered in the book.' Anabases