The Court Cities of Northern Italy

This volume examines the painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and architecture produced in nine important court cities of Italy during the course of the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries. Although each chapter represents a separate study of a particular geographical locale, many common themes emerge. This volume gives a multifaceted consideration of the art created for princes, prelates, confraternities, and civic authorities – works displayed in public squares, private palaces, churches, and town halls. Including six essays specially commissioned that explore the interaction of artists and their civic and/or courtly patrons within the context of prevailing cultural, political, and religious circumstances, The Court Cities of Northern Italy provides a rich supplement to traditional accounts of the artistic heritage of the Italian Renaissance, which has traditionally focused on the Florentine, Venetian, and Roman traditions. The book includes 35 color plates and 221 black and white illustrations.

• These essays not only provide insight into familiar objects and monuments, but also new works which have not been part of the general discussion of Italian Renaissance art
• This is an important supplement to the normal narrative of Italian Renaissance art with its focus on the Tusco-Romano and Venetian traditions
• The wealth of illustrations and rich bibliography will be an important resource for generalist and specialist alike