It's selective rather than inclusive. It highlights three dozen paintings out of the hundreds. It offers a "guided tour" instead of a card catalogue approach.
It takes advantage of the Uffizi's layout, which displays the paintings chronologically, to give you a sense of the profound shifts in religious worldview from the 14th to the 16th centuries.
It invites you to look thoughtfully at certain paintings, to notice where your attention goes, and to explore your own responses as a vehicle for understanding and deepening your engagement with the art.
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Reader and reviewer comments
"Sam Hilt has written a book that I’ve been wanting for years: an intelligent, friendly guide to Italian art that makes the paintings come alive and connect to the life of the art lover. He quickly passes through the usual historical and technical aspects to help a viewer see and appreciate the images. So simple, and yet so radical. Sam is a person you would want at your side in an art museum, and his book is almost as good as him being there with you... Sam’s book reveals the heart and soul of the art. Its tone is just right—informative and insightful.”
- Thomas Moore, New York Times’ Best-selling Author of Care of the Soul
“The Uffizi is overwhelming. Where to start? Start with this gem of a book. Sam Hilt has selected paintings that are not necessarily “the usual cast of characters”. This book is not a dry or boring art history text. You can tell the author adores the subject matter and wants the reader to love it as well. Makes me want to jump on a plane and go back to Italy!”
- Beth Kucera
"Great tour of the Uffizi! Better than any of the tour guides I heard over there... It will open your eyes to a different way of looking at paintings and maybe the world. Not only highly recommended, but must have.”
- Paul Rodriguez
"Excellent, well written description of major art in the gallery. Perceptive, with few wasted words. A delight.”
- John Mannion
"As someone who knows very little about art, I found Sam Hilt’s ability to explain the significance of the Uffizi collection fascinating. I was lucky enough to tour the museum with Sam, and his background and knowledge is unsurpassed. I would recommend this book for art lovers and travelers alike.”
