The Renaissance throughout Europe produced some of the West's most spectacular art, yet this most celebrated of periods is also one of the least understood, often regarded simply as a 'rebirth' of ancient Roman culture. While Renaissance paintings and sculptures deal with Classical and Christian themes, they are also replete with contemporaneous references that resonate with viewers today. Each chapter in this lavishly illustrated book includes interpretations of up to 40 works and is devoted to a particular subject, from war to courtly life, and from landscape to the influence of Byzantine and Islamic civilization. With its beautiful images, engaging text and gazetteer section detailing public art collections worldwide, Renaissance will appeal to the armchair reader, museum visitor, student of art and anyone interested in one of the greatest contributions to world culture. AUTHOR: Christopher Masters is a writer and lecturer on art based in London. He writes for The Guardian newspaper and is the author of a book on Salvador Dalí, as well as numerous articles and contributions to works of reference. SELLING POINTS: A major new study of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century art in both Italy and northern Europe Features works by such major artists as Donatello, Botticelli, Bosch, Leonardo da Vinci, Dürer, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and Bruegel Lively and informative text takes a fresh approach, analysing the artists' principal themes and sources of inspiration 250 colour illustrations
