Town and Country: The Life of an Italian Prince

Renaissance Art History Course London

Date/time:
21 September 2010 - 8 February 2011
Tuesdays 10.45am - 12.45pm
Venue:
1 Berkeley Street, London W1J 8DJ
Lecturers:
Nick Ross and Dan Evans
Fees:
Full course (10 lectures) £300.00
Single lecture £35.00

What transformed the daily life of a Renaissance Prince from the misery of a dank castle to a civilised environment full of light, culture and the arts?

In this rich and varied series of lectures, we'll unravel the lives of ten great families, whose histories take us from the late 15th century to the mid 17th century and from the city to the country. You'll have the opportunity to study Italian gardens, art, architecture and sculpture, as well as gem collecting, music and poetry.

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Course outline

21 Sep 2010 Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino

As a mercenary he terrified opponents, as a husband he had difficulty in siring a son and as a patron he built an ideal new sort of palace.

From this court Piero della Francesco, Perugino and Raphael were all commissioned.

28 Sep 2010 The Sforza of Milan

Every north Italian city state wanted to marry into this family which commissioned Leonardo's Last Supper, and explored helicopter technology.

05 Oct 2010 Mantua, The Hunchbacked Gonzaga, and their faithful artists

The works of Mantegna, Alberti and Guilio Romano and the magnificent retreat of Sabbioneta.

12 Oct 2010 The Medici and the magnificence of mother nature

The Gardens and Villas of Poggio a Caino, Pratolino, Castello and Boboli.