Bernard Berenson Biography

Early Life and also Education
Bernard Berenson was born on June 26, 1865, in Butrimonys, Lithuania. His given name at birth was Bernhard Valvrojenski. In 1875, his family members emigrated to the United States, where they changed their last name to Berenson. They settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where Bernard's father, Albert, functioned as a tin peddler. Bernard was the earliest of thirteen children, as well as his household's modest methods led him to create a strong feeling of ambition and also self-reliance.

The several intellectual as well as social possibilities available to him in Boston permitted Berenson to come to be extremely enlightened. He participated in the respected Boston Latin School as well as finished in 1881. He after that proceeded his education at Harvard University, where he became good friends with several notable schoolmates, such as the future American philosopher George Santayana. With Santayana's inspiration, Berenson began researching art history, an area that would certainly become his life's job.

Journeys and also Work in Europe
After finishing his undergraduate degree, Berenson took a trip to Europe on a Sheldon Fellowship, originally focusing on German songs as well as literary works. Nevertheless, a visit to Italy rekindled his passion in Italian Renaissance art, as well as he started methodically researching art history, visiting museums, and conference prominent enthusiasts, critics, and also art dealers.

In 1890, Berenson published his initial deal with art history, "Venetian Painters of the Renaissance". This job focused on the analysis of attribution and also evaluation of individual musicians' success-- a strategy that would certainly end up being identified with his name. Over the next few years, Berenson released added books on the history of Italian art, which firmly established his credibility as a leading specialist in the field.

Collaboration with Mary Costelloe
While living abroad, Berenson satisfied as well as loved a married woman named Mary Costelloe, that later on came to be called Mary Berenson. Costelloe was intellectually ambitious as well as thinking about art, and she started functioning closely with Berenson on his scholarly searches.

Both began an affair, and in 1899, after her initial husband's death, they married. With each other, the pair built a large collection of Italian Renaissance art and also established a home in Italy called Villa I Tatti, near Florence. This wonderful vacation home became a center of intellectual focus, attracting scholars as well as collectors from worldwide.

Consulting, Connoisseurship, as well as Controversy
In the very early 20th century, Berenson's competence in art was very searched for by exclusive collection agencies and museums, such as the terrific American enthusiast Isabella Stewart Gardner. Berenson commonly served as a consultant for such enthusiasts, advising them on acquisitions, acknowledgments, as well as the restoration of artworks.

His authority in the art globe offered his opinions substantial weight, and his endorsements often identified an artwork's market price. Berenson's rate of interest in acknowledgment and connoisseurship ultimately led to debate, as movie critics asserted that he focused on the economic passions of the art market over scholarly honesty. This objection continued throughout his job, though it did not diminish his stature as an imposing number in the area of art history.

Later Life and Legacy
In his later years, Berenson continued to discuss Italian Renaissance art, publishing publications and also write-ups on topics such as visual appeals, iconography, and also the ideology of art. In 1948, he contributed his collection, art collection, and Villa I Tatti to Harvard University, developing the Harvard Center for Italian Renaissance Studies.

Bernard Berenson passed away on October 6, 1959, at the age of 94, in his Italian vacation home. Regardless of the disputes that shadowed his occupation as a connoisseur, he stayed a respected and significant figure in the world of art background. His influence can still be felt today, with generations of scholars as well as art chroniclers complying with in his steps.

Our collection contains 13 quotes who is written / told by Bernard.

Related authors: George Santayana (Philosopher), Philo (Philosopher), Edith Wharton (Author), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)