Virtue and Magnificence: Art of the Italian Renaissance Courts

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Illustrations
Review: The aims of this book are accurately described in the publisher's review in Amazon's editorial reviews section. While I would not characterize the writing as lively, it is clear and without jargon. The thesis of the book is well set out in Chapter One. The next five chapters, dealing with the 15th Century art of five lesser Renaissance courts, Naples, Urbino, Milan and Pavia, Ferrara, and Mantua, apply the thesis to the respective courts. These chapters are of varying interest, and occasionally are a bit tedious. The short final chapter treats succinctly the rise of Rome in the 16th Century and the decline of the princely courts. The book's excellent illustrations are tied into the text very well, and in my view are the best feature of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Illustrations
Review: The aims of this book are accurately described in the publisher's review in Amazon's editorial reviews section. While I would not characterize the writing as lively, it is clear and without jargon. The thesis of the book is well set out in Chapter One. The next five chapters, dealing with the 15th Century art of five lesser Renaissance courts, Naples, Urbino, Milan and Pavia, Ferrara, and Mantua, apply the thesis to the respective courts. These chapters are of varying interest, and occasionally are a bit tedious. The short final chapter treats succinctly the rise of Rome in the 16th Century and the decline of the princely courts. The book's excellent illustrations are tied into the text very well, and in my view are the best feature of the book.