Book 1

This book is a study of Giambattista Tiepolo (1696-1770) whose work included both decorative oil paintings and perhaps most notably frescos. He is known for reviving the glories of the Venetian School but the author argues he was also a religious painter of intensity and fervour and that he represents the Western world's last great artistic expression of traditional Christian piety. Barcham concentrates on the period leading up to 1750 before Tiepolo turned his emphasis from religious to secular subjects. He considers the iconography, technique, influences and preparatory sketches for the religious paintings, both the easel paintings (many of which were done as altar-pieces) and the frescos.