Dimensions
253 x 299 x 42mm
Florence is justly named the 'cradle of the renaissance'. It was here that, inspired by the revival of interest in classical antiquity, fuelled by civic pride and fostered by the wealthy Medici family, a visual language was created that was to be spoken across Europe for centuries to come. The new style was spearheaded in the early 1400s by the sculptors Donatello and Ghiberti, the architect Brunelleschi and the painter Masaccio. At its heart was an interest in the realistic depiction of the human figure, based on direct observation from life, and the inventive reuse of Antique forms. It was an era of intense creativity and astonishing potential, with new techniques and skills contributing to its remarkable achievements, notably Brunelleschi's Dome and Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. In this explosion of artistic talent, it was sculptors who frequently led the way - not only Ghiberti, who revived the art of large-scale bronze casting, but the genius Donatello, whose inventive design, expressive range and technical versatility are unparalleled. Masaccio translated Donatello's inventions into paint; in the next generation, the sculptors Luca della Robbia and Desiderio da Settignano, and the painters Paolo Uccello and Filippo Lippi, elaborated these ideas. 200 colour illustrations
