Giorgio Vasari (1511-74) was an accomplished painter and architect, but it is for his illuminating biographies that he is best remembered. George Bull translated widely from the Italian, including for Penguin Classics including Cellini's 'Autobiography' and Machiavelli's 'The Prince'. He is also the author of a number of books on the Renaissance.

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• IntroductionVasari's LivesVasari and the Renaissance ArtistTranslator's NoteThe LivesPreface to the LivesCimabueGiottoPreface to Part TwoUccelloGhibertiMasaccioBrunelleschiDonatelloPiero della FrancescaFra AngelicoAlbertiFra Filippo LippiBotticelliVerrocchioMantegnaPreface to Part ThreeLeonardo da VinciGiorgioneCorreggioRaphaelMichelangeloTitianNotes on the ArtistsFurther Reading