'The book's focus is the construction of meaning in Barocci's paintings through spectators' dialogic interactions with them. Gillgren uses Barocci's body of paintings as a case study for the application of his interpretive method, which draws heavily upon semiotics and reception aesthetics. Gillgrens book ostensibly aims to elaborate a "Renaissance aesthetic;' something akin to Michael Baxandall's "period eye, yet its title promises to deepen the reader's understanding of Barocci.' Sixteenth Century Journal
Peter Gillgren is Anders Zorn Professor of Art History at Stockholm University, Sweden.
Contents: Preface; Introduction: hermeneutical premises; The performative gaze; Aesthetic communication; The Barocci discourse; Part I Towards a Poetics of the Gaze: The pleasure of mimesis; The importance of the site; Positioning the spectator's gaze; Interior communication and relationships; The implicit spectator; Vacancies and fragments; Intersubjectivity. Part II The Art of Federico Barocci: Early works; The casino of Pius IV; Drama and allegory; Lyric and dialogue; Mixed genre works; The Visitation; Fragments of classicism; An oblique crucifixion; The eucharist in Urbino and in Rome; Meditations; Last works. Part III Catalogue of Paintings by Federico Barocci. Bibliography; Index.