Dimensions
110 x 186 x 17mm
Jacob Burckhardt, Professor of History at the University of Basel, Switzerland, was a remarkable scholar who had the rare gift of being able to combine vast knowledge with a vivid imagination and lively creativity. 'The Civilisation of the Renaissance in Italy', his major contribution to cultural history, was first published in 1860, and has long been recognised as a great work of literature as well as of history; its range, powerful style, and breadth of vision make it a classic introduction to the study of the Renaissance, and one that is still a source of inspiration.
The work covers the period from the birth of Dante to the death of Michelangelo, and is divided into six sections, covering politics, the rise of individualism, the revival of antiquity, science and humanism, society and festivals, and morality and religion. However, these headings do not do justice to the richness of the text, or to the skill with which the author controls his material and unfolds his vision of the developing Renaissance. Within this great framework the author gives a fascinating account of a whole range of subjects - from literature and the arts to home life, fashion and superstition - illuminating all aspects of life in the Renaissance. The 100 illustrations selected by the editor of the English translation, Ludwig Goldschedier, provide a pictorial commentary to the text.
Includes black-and-white illustrations.
