The Guardian of Mercy: How an Extraordinary Painting by Caravaggio Changed an Ordinary Life Today
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.98 (902 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1628728183 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 216 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-09-02 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Fusing elements of history, biography, memoir, travelogue, and journalism, his narrative maps the movement from estrangement to grace, as we witness Caravaggio's bruised life was gradually redeemed by art.. A Profound New Look at the Italian Master and His Lasting Legacy Now celebrated as one of the great painters of the Renaissance, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio fled Rome in 1606 to escape retribution for killing a man in a brawl. Exploring Caravaggio's singular masterwork, in The Guardian of Mercy Terence Ward offers an incredible narrative journey into the heart of his artistry and his metamorphosis from fugitive to visionary.Ward's guide in this journey is a contemporary artist whose own life was transformed by the painting, a simple man named Angelo who shows him where it still hangs in a small church in Naples and whose story helps him see its many layers. Three years later he was in Naples, where he painted The Seven Acts of Mercy. A year later he died at the age of thirty-eight under mysterious circumstances. As Ward unfolds the structure of the painting, he explains each of the seven mercies and its influence on Caravaggio's troubled existence. Caravaggio encountered the whole range of Naples's vertical social layers, from the lowest ranks of poverty to lofty gilded aristocratic circles, and Ward reveals the old city behind today's m
Very timely. Also timeless. Christine Westberg Follow Terence Ward and his wise, adventurous wife, Idanna, on a time-bending, transcultural odyssey through realms both sacred and profane. Their guide is Angelo Esposito, the title character, who gives us access to the underbelly of contemporary Naples. This jack-of-many-trades recounts his hardscrabble childhood (“By staying pregnant, my mother stayed out of jail….”), an escape from reform. "The Guardian of Mercy continues to inspire good works" according to Kindle Customer gig walsh. Give yourself the gift of reading this masterfully written and compelling double narrative, "The Guardian of Mercy". Terence Ward conveys the story of Caravaggio's painting of the "Seven Works of Mercy". Mr Ward's gift as a graceful and dexterous storyteller is compelling as he weaves the history of how the painting was commissioned with how the painting has impacted the life of the custodian who guards it. I h. "A Rich, Strange Tale of how Art can (literally) Save your Life--Beautifully Written" according to Kevin P. Ward. What an extraordinary work! In the tradition of Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities, the author ushers us into a tale that is part present day, part imagined history, part metaphor, part literary jewel-box, part keenly observed connections between art and humanity---all woven into a rich, strange tapestry that is a true joy to read.I agree with an earlier reviewer: this book is a ship that will sail you over the c
An electrifying reading experience and a wondrous book on Caravaggio Ward challenges us to undertake soul-work, even if one is a secular reader. And bold. Just brilliant." —Pete Hamill, author of Forever, Snow in August, A Drinking Life"I was stunned by Ward's account. This book does everything art writing should do. The author also reveals the subtle and profound ways in which art and life interact. Thank you for giving us such a gift." —Ingrid Rowland, New York Review of Books"The author provides a rich tapestry that intricately weaves the story of an iconic painter and his influence on the viewer." —San Francisco Book Review"The Guardian of Mercy is just superb. Here, reading is an act of empathy and potential readers will read the book with passion and compassion, thereby becoming, in the w