The Lives of the Artists

By: Giorgio Vasari

Narrated by: Neville Jason

An Italian Mannerist architect and painter, Giorgio Vasari was acquainted with many of the most famous artists of his day. He is best-known today for his biographies of artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian and Giotto. This recording is read with clarity and authority by Neville Jason.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2008 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2008 Naxos Audiobooks

Excellent if the music was removed.

Would you listen to The Lives of the Artists again? Why?

Yes. As Vasari lived in the time of the Master artists, and gave his view of how they were perceived in his day.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vasari himself, the way he talks about other artist; 'Leonardo da Vinci was frivolous'; could not complete anything before moving on to something else, or the artist that boiled 50 eggs at a time for eating, whilst he was making his egg mixture for tempera!

Which scene was your favorite?

I haven't finished the book yet. But there is a lot to take in, which makes you want to stop pause and talk about. I will definitely be listening to this book a few more times, start to finish, to learn a lot of past artist names, the way they perceived art and the way they were treated by their own people of their time.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Vasari's View

Any additional comments?

The music between chapters is the real killer of the book. If the music went for 2 - 5 seconds and at a lower decibel, it may be bearable. Instead it last for up to 25 seconds by this stage I’m murderous. Only a Classis organ player would enjoy that part.

Great performance

Performance and translation of this great work are wonderful. Highly recommended to all art lovers.

I cannot recommend this more highly...

Giorgio Vasari describes the art, artists, and contemporary events of the Italian Renaissance as only an actual artist of the time could do. The narration is wonderful, the speaker's voice both melodious and interesting. I appreciated the music played between each chapter, as it added to the atmosphere of stories being told about artists by someone who actually knew and worked with them.

really surprised

i knew about the reputation of the book but thought I wouldn't be able to stay awake reading biographies of multiple artists so i thought I'd give the audiobook a shot. I'm glad i did, the narrator was excellent, he moved about the story quickly with different intonations to keep your interest.

The book itself is excellent, it's pretty amazing to hear the biographies of the most famous artists of the Renaissance told by someone who either knew them personally or indirectly. His facts are obviously embellished at times but I enjoyed that part too, I found it funny.

i discovered a lot about artists I had never heard of and others I knew about.

very highly recommended.

Best version I have found!

I have tried to read this several times but the interpretations were tedious and boring. This version is more accessible and allows Vasari's charm and humor to shine. Loved it.