Italian Renaissance villas and gardens
In the 14th century, the Italian villa was a large country house, often fortified, that stood at the heart of an ag…
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Fashion in Motion: Missoni
The Missoni Fashion in Motion live catwalk event took place on 28 November 2003. Throughout its five decades in the…
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Painting on a plate: Italian Renaissance maiolica
The years between 1470 and 1530 witness the most spectacular period of development in the history of Italian maioli…
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'Neptune and Triton' by Gianlorenzo Bernini, 1620–2
Created by Gianlorenzo (Giovanni Lorenzo) Bernini in 1622–3, this sculpture depicts the life-size figure of Neptune…
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British watercolours 1750-1900: travels in Europe and the Middle East
In the early 19th century more artists took advantage of the opportunities for foreign travel, exploring new subjec…
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The Raphael Cartoons: Waldemar Januszczak on Raphael's tapestries
Raphael's famous tapestries were hung in the Sistine Chapel in July 2010. Waldemar Januszczak explains why he made …
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A ceiling from Cremona
This ceiling was painted in about 1500 with frescos depicting an old man, a boy and a woman, listening to the Muses…
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Fashion in Motion: Gianfranco Ferré
The Gianfranco Ferré Fashion in Motion live catwalk event took place on July 13 2005. Internationally celebrated It…
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Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks
Leonardo da Vinci seems to have begun recording his thoughts in notebooks from the mid-1480s. The notebooks were in…
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The coat of arms of René of Anjou, by Luca della Robbia, about 1466-78
The 'Stemma', or coat of arms of René of Anjou was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1861, a few years …
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Ceramics for the Baroque court
Baroque was the dominant decorative style of Europe in the 17th and early 18th centuries. It was characterised by bold, curved forms, naturalistic detailing and intricate formal patterns, particularly in France.
Painting the Gonzaga-Montefeltro Chest
This travelling chest bears the coats of arms of Elizabetta Gonzaga of Mantua and Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. The emblems on this chest include the ‘flames of love’, the symbol of the Compagna della Calza, an order of knights based in Venice, to which Guidobaldo’s illustrious father Frederico had belonged. Chests with this distinctive shape were often strapped to the backs of mules or used as household furnishings.
Africans in medieval & Renaissance art: Duke Alessandro de' Medici
Alessandro de' Medici (1511-37), was a member of the powerful Italian family of merchants, bankers, rulers, patrons and collectors, who dominated the political and cultural life of Florence from the 15th century to the mid-18th century. Although he was the first Duke of Florence, it is thought that Alessandro's mother was a Moorish slave.
Gothic architecture
The style of architecture we now call Gothic first emerged in northern France in around 1140. It evolved during the construction of great churches in the Paris region, in a drive towards height, light and volume. Later it was also used for secular buildings such as castles, palaces, bridges, city walls and gates.
Donatello and Florence
Donatello was born and died in Florence, and was a favourite of Cosimo de' Medici (1389–1464), a member of the family that, in effect, ruled the Republic of Florence. Artistic production was flourishing in Florence at this time, with patrons vying to attract the best artists to embellish religious, civic and domestic buildings and to make devotional and domestic objects. The talented Donatello was much in demand. His powerful sculptures could be seen across the cityscape of Florence.
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Bocca: Cookbook (Signed)
Signed copy of Jacob Kenedy's thrilling, exotic journey through the true flavours of Italy.
Buy nowEvent - High Renaissance to Baroque 12/13
Wed 19 September 2012 10:45
YEAR COURSE: Study the art, architecture and decorative arts of Europe from the High Renaissance to Baroque focussing on Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands and England.
Wednesdays, 19 September 2012 – 10 July 2013 (over 3 terms), 11.00–15.30
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