4. Giovanni Paolo Lomazzo, Idea of the Temple of Painting 1590.

Lomazzo was a Milanese painter, who after going blind, devoted himself to writing theoretical works on art. The Idea of the Temple of Painting creatively weaves the lives of seven prominent Italian artists into the architecture of a temple to art, in which they are represented by seven grand statues. 

Lomazzo was one of the first individuals to encapsulate in writing, the art criticism of the sixteenth century High and late Renaissance. He was less concerned with anecdotal stories, and more with how the achievements of these individuals could be related to art criticism and the stylistic concerns of artists and patrons of his day.

The context for such a creative literary approach to biography came out of Lomazzo’s prominence amongst the humanist circles of Milan and his own lineage from the elite craftsman of the city – embroiderers, armourers and jewellers - who supplied luxury goods to the courts of Europe.

The Idea of the Temple of Painting has been translated into English by Jean Julia Chai and has been available as of 1 July 2013.