History of Italian Renaissance Art

Covering over four centuries of Italian painting, sculpture and architecture, this book brings into focus the elements of this extraordinarily creative period and the personalities who gave it life. Since the publication of the fourth edition, many more works have been restored, including Michelangelo's Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Stanze frescoes in the Vatican. Fresh views of renowned works are included with art commissioned or produced by women. Extended captions identify Renaissance patrons and provide details about the historical context, emphasizing how art was created and why, while in-depth visual analysis clarifies the aesthetic developments that emerged in key artistic centres such as Florence, Rome, Venice and Siena. New iconographic diagrams and computerized reconstructions add dimension to the meanings behind classical, secular and sacred motifs. Architectural plans, colour maps, and an expanded glossary and bibliography complete this picture of the Italian Renaissance.