Sleeping Venus

Giorgio Vasari, born on July 30, 1511, in Arezzo, and passing on June 27, 1574, in Florence, was a multifaceted Italian painter, architect, and art historian, embodying the Renaissance ideal of the polymath. Serving the Medici and the popes, Vasari's contributions spanned across painting, architecture, and the foundational work in art history. His artistic endeavors were marked by a distinct Mannerist style, leading significant projects such as the decoration of the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio and the Salone dei Cento Giorni in the Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome. As an architect, his legacy includes the Palazzo della Carovana in Pisa and the Uffizi complex in Florence. Vasari's most enduring contribution, however, lies in his seminal work, 'Le Vite de' più eccellenti pittori, scultori, e architettori' (The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects), published in 1550 and expanded in 1568. This collection of biographies, focusing on artists from Cimabue to his contemporaries, established the framework for art historical writing and significantly influenced the perception of Renaissance art. His archives, rediscovered in 1908, contain invaluable correspondence and preparatory materials for 'Le Vite,' offering a window into the artistic and intellectual milieu of his time.