Raphael and the Beautiful Banker: The Story of the Bindo Altoviti Portrait

280 Pages·2005·65.676 MB·English

by  David Alan Brown, Jane Van Nimmen

DAVID ALAN BROWN & JANE VAN NIMMEN
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THE STORY OF THE BINDO ALTOVITI PORTRAIT
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THE STORY OF THE BINDO ALTOVITI PORTRAIT
David Alan Brovm Jane Van Nimmen
Five centuries ago a stunningly beautiful young man, heir
to a banking fortune, sat for a portrait by Raphael. In the
artists dynamic conception, Bindo Altoviti turns as if to
speak to his Florentine bride, Fiammetta. Ardently admired
over the years, as it is today, Raphael’s portrait was also
coolly received by more than one influential critic who cast
a shadow on its reputation. This gloriously illustrated book
tells the story of the portrait’s creation and of its unexpected
trajectory through history.
Focusing on viewers’ responses to Bindo Altoviti, the book
describes the transformation of the picture from a family
treasure into a supposed self-portrait of the artist; its public
display in Munich, where it was first celebrated, then
dismissed by sceptics claiming that it was neither of nor by
Raphael; and its acquisition by canny English dealers who
lured the panel out of Nazi Germany. Purchased as a
Raphael by American collector Samuel H. Kress, the
painting was donated in 1943 to the newly opened National
Gallery of Art, where Bindo’s image has beguiled visitors
v
ever since.

Raphael ,,
the Beautiful Banker

Raphael
yty the Beautiful Banker
THE STORY OF THE BINDO ALTOVITI PORTRAIT
David Alan Brovm
Jane Van Nimmen
Yale University Press New Haven
London
PUBLISHED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE GETTY FOUNDATION
Copyright © 2005 by David Alan Brown and Jane Van Nimmen
Excerpt from A Soldier of the Great War, copyright © 1991 by Mark Helprin,
reprinted by permission of Harcourt, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part,
in any form (beyond that copying permitted by
Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law
and except by reviewers for the public press),
without written permission from the publishers.
Designed by Gillian Malpass
Printed in Singapore
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Brown, David Alan, 1942-
Raphael and the beautiful banker : the story of the Bindo
Altoviti portrait / David Alan Brown and Jane Van Nimmen.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-300-10824-9 (cl : alk. paper)
1. Raphael, 1483-1520. Bindo Altoviti.
2. Altoviti, Bindo, 1491-1556 - Portraits.
3. Raphael, 1483-1520 - Criticism and interpretation.
1. Van Nimmen, Jane, 1937- 11. Raphael, 1483-1520.
111. Title.
ND623.R2A625 2005 759-5 — dc22
2004023961
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Frontispiece Raphael, Bindo Altoviti, c. 1512. Oil on panel, 59.5 X 43.8 cm.
Washington, National Gallery of Art, Samuel H. Kress Collection.
To
Armand Van Nimmen,
friend, husband, picture editor