"There may be no greater clear and present danger to our society, our health, and our environment – indeed, to our very existence – than the current contagion of stupidity and idiocy. Svendsen’s serious but accessible and entertaining book is thus a timely and essential tool both for identifying the threat and for finding a way to save ourselves from the epistemological epidemic and restore some rationality to the world." - Steven Nadler, Vilas Research Professor and William H. Hay II Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin-Madison"This is a remarkable book. It recounts, from the perspective of a single oak tree, the history and diversity of the many species which make up the genus Quercus . . . [With] splendid illustrations." - Charles Watkins, University of Nottingham, author of Trees Ancient and Modern: Woodland Cultures and Conservation"Jean K. Cadogan sheds light on this unjustly overlooked master in her new biography, which admirably situates Ghirlandaio in the network of guilds and religious confraternities that defined Renaissance Florence. Domenico Ghirlandaio: An Elite Artisan and His World balances technical insights into the artist’s drawing and painting technique with broader discussions of the trajectory of Italian painting, making for a pleasant introduction to a painter renowned for his buon aria." - Anatoly Grablevsky, New Criterion"If an oak could speak, what would it say? I revelled in this vital, epic story, wittily told by one tree. Tim Entwisle charmingly animates the history and biology of the oak and brings to life its uneasy relationships with fungi." - Jonathan Drori, author of Around the World in 80 Trees"Written by the leading Ghirlandaio scholar, Domenico Ghirlandaio: An Elite Artisan and His World presents a fresh interpretation of the renowned painter within the dynamic social and artistic networks of Renaissance Florence. Jean K. Cadogan vividly identifies his contributions to narrative, portraiture, and technique, confirming his importance to Italian art." - Diane Cole Ahl, Arthur J. ’55 and Barbara S. Rothkopf Professor Emerita of Art History at Lafayette College, Pennsylvania"In this beautifully conceived and produced volume, Jean K. Cadogan introduces readers to the lives of artisans in fifteenth-century Florence through Domenico Ghirlandaio’s life, family, and social relations. With her years of intimate study of Ghirlandaio’s paintings and drawings, Cadogan foregrounds Ghirlandaio’s craft of painting through her discussions of his materials, painting techniques, and use of drawings as a means of invention." - Maria DePrano, Professor of Art History, University of California, Merced, and author of Art, Patronage, and Gender in Renaissance Florence: The Tornabuoni"Like so many around this green planet, I have loved oak trees but I never imagined one would talk to me. Tim Entwisle’s stricken garden guest, like so many human beings today, was driven to find its possible ancestors – and what an adventure it turns out to be. The range of this great family of plants is magnificent – and his book has exquisite illustrations to prove it. As I toast this rare achievement with a fine wine, I pause, nod, and recognize where the cork came from." - Robyn Williams, host of The Science Show on ABC Radio National"Tim Entwisle weaves a global survey of oaks into a literary tapestry – infused with Latin American magical realism and Nabokovian annotations – framed through the vision of a single decaying tree. While delivering an account of genus Quercus, at times humorous and scholarly throughout, he showcases the remarkable oak collection at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Essential reading for oak enthusiasts and cognoscenti, and for anyone who values a story well told." - Roderick Cameron, former president of the International Oak Society"Richly synthetic, gracefully written, and fully documented, Jean K. Cadogan’s biography of Ghirlandaio brings the enchanting Florentine artist alive in singular fashion. I know of no book that gives us such a full picture of the artist’s life and work in context. It is at once biography, art history, connoisseurship, iconography and art “appreciation”. A pleasure to read." - Paul Barolsky, Professor Emeritus of Art History, University of Virginia
