Courts and Courtly Arts in Renaissance Italy

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Italian Renaissance art is deeply connected to the development of courts and court culture across Italy. The patronage of ruling families in small city-states significantly contributed to the flourishing of the figurative arts, architecture, music, literature, and theater. The volume opens with an introduction by Marco Folin, addressing critical issues of court art and its historiography, followed by an essay detailing the historical and geographical context of Renaissance Italy, supported by 18 specially-made maps that illustrate the country's complexity in the 15th century. It explores princely patronage's influence on music and literature, linking humanists at court to music's role in propaganda, the emergence of theatrical representations, and the rise of the printing press, including notable works like Castiglione's Book of the Courtier and Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. The second, more extensive section is organized geographically, covering major courts such as Milan, Mantua, and Rome, as well as minor courts in northern and central Italy. The chapters are complemented by essays on various aspects of Renaissance culture, including the courts of cardinals and southern barons, and the patronage of condottieri. Contributions from renowned Italian scholars are accompanied by rich iconography, showcasing both famous and lesser-known artworks. The volume concludes with an annotated bibliography and an index of names and places.