Bertrand Prévost's 'La Peinture en actes' Examines Gesture in Renaissance Art

In 'La Peinture en actes', published by Éditions Actes Sud, Bertrand Prévost explores the transformation of artistic gesture from the Renaissance to modern times. Prior to the 19th century, artists concealed their gestures to achieve a 'natural' composition, but the Renaissance marked a turning point, emphasizing individual expression. Prévost juxtaposes Erwin Panofsky's iconographic method with Aby Warburg's blend of symbol and expression, asserting that gesture is both sensory and symbolic, crucial to figurative art. The book delves into Renaissance discussions on gesture, notably Leon Battista Alberti's classifications rooted in Aristotelian thought. Prévost highlights a paradox where gesture represents grace as 'the measure of the immeasurable.' Analyses of Antonio del Pollaiuolo and Sandro Botticelli's works illustrate Renaissance grace. The book, prefaced by Georges Didi-Huberman, also links aesthetic and ethical aspects of Quattrocento Florentine culture.