ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Karl Kolbitz Reveals Divine Marble in Early Renaissance Painting

publication · 2026-04-24

Author Karl Kolbitz has published a new book focusing on the depiction of marble in Early Renaissance paintings, arguing that artists used fictive marble to make the divine visible. Inspired by Georges Didi-Huberman's 1990 theory on Fra Angelico at San Marco and new imaging techniques, Kolbitz brings hidden details to the forefront. The book, titled 'Spezialinteresse: Marmor', addresses a long-neglected topic in art history.

Key facts

  • Karl Kolbitz wrote a book about marble depictions in Early Renaissance paintings.
  • The book is titled 'Spezialinteresse: Marmor'.
  • Kolbitz argues fictive marble made the divine visible.
  • Georges Didi-Huberman's 1990 theory on Fra Angelico inspired the work.
  • New imaging techniques are used to reveal hidden details.
  • The topic was previously only discussed marginally in art history.
  • The book focuses on Early Renaissance painters.
  • The source is an interview in Monopol magazine.

Entities

Artists

  • Karl Kolbitz
  • Georges Didi-Huberman
  • Fra Angelico

Institutions

  • Monopol

Sources