Rating: Not rated
Tags: History, Lang:en
Summary
Includes pictures
When historians are asked to pick a point in history when
Western civilization was transformed and guided down the path
to modernity, most of them point to the Renaissance. Indeed,
the Renaissance revolutionized art, philosophy, religion,
sciences and math, with individuals like Galileo, Leonardo,
Michelangelo, Raphael, Dante, and Petrarch bridging the past
and modern society. Most historians credit the city-state of Florence as the
place that started and developed the Italian Renaissance, a
process carried out through the patronage and commission of
artists during the late 12th century. If Florence is receiving
its due credit, much of it belongs to the Medici family, a
Florentine dynasty that ruled at the height of the Renaissance.
The dynasty held such influence that some of its family members
even became Pope. Of all the fields that were advanced during
the Renaissance, the period’s most famous works were art,
with iconic paintings like Leonardo’s Mona Lisa and
timeless sculptures like Michelangelo’s David, so it is
fitting that both Leonardo and Michelangelo were at times
members of Lorenzo de’ Medici’s court. The famous
leader, who also considered himself an artist and poet, became
known for securing commissions for the most famous artists of
the age, including the aforementioned legends, Piero and
Antonio del Pollaiuolo, Andrea del Verrocchio, Sandro
Botticelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio. When Lorenzo de’
Medici died in April 1492, he was buried in a chapel designed
by Michelangelo. As a result, Florence remains one of Europe’s favorite
tourist spots. The Fodors travel guide paints one of the most
vividly evocative pictures of the Italian city, telling
readers, “Florence's is a subtle beauty – its
staid, unprepossessing palaces built in local stone are not
showy, even though they are very large. They take on a certain
magnificence when day breaks and when the sun sets; their muted
colors glow in this light.”As a matter of fact, this
stunning city, populated by neat, rectangular complexes of
Renaissance-style houses with matching clay roofs that seem to
glitter under the sunlight, is said to be so beautiful that it
inspired the name of a certain disorder. If the stories are to
be believed, visitors were so taken by the city's splendor that
they fell faint at the sheer sight of it. This disorder has
since been dubbed the “Florence syndrome.” Florence: The History and Legacy of the Birthplace of the
Renaissance examines the origins of the city, some of the most
famous residents, and why Florence ushered in such momentous
changes during the Renaissance. Along with pictures depicting
important people, places, and events, you will learn about
Florence like never before. **
Includes contemporary accounts of Florence
Includes online resources and a bibliography for further
reading
Includes a table of contents