The Course / Princely Patronage in the Italian Renaissance 5/10

When:
October 22, 2019 @ 10:45 am – 12:45 pm
2019-10-22T10:45:00+01:00
2019-10-22T12:45:00+01:00
Where:
The Course at The University Women's Club
2 Audley Street
London W1K 1DB
Cost:
59
Contact:
Mary Bromley
020 7266 7815

Started in 1994, The Course offers Art History, Literature, Music and Opera Lectures.

In Princely Patronage, a series of 10 lectures, we will examine how for nearly two centuries, some dozen city states waged war and their leaders competed to create spheres of both authority and magnificence. Artists from Italy and abroad flourished, moving from court to court, sharing influences and creating ever more sumptuous environments. This series examines the role of the ruling families, their spectacular personalities and projects, and the values of the age in driving this artistic flowering.

Smoke and Mirrors

Mantua, small and muddy, was one of the least powerful of Italian city states but through extraordinary and judicious patronage of the arts, the Gonzaga dynasty presented itself as the equal of all contemporaries. Alberti in architecture, Pisanello and Mantegna in painting created an image of splendour which made the city the envy of its contemporaries.