Patronage, Art, and Society in Renaissance Italy

Patronage, in its broadest sense, has been established as one of the dominant social processes of pre-industrial Europe. This collection examines the role it played in the Italian Renaissance, focusing particularly upon Florence. Traditionally viewed simply as the context for the extraordinary artistic creativity of the Renaissance, patronage has more recently been examined by historians as a comprehensive system of patron-client structureswhich permeated society and social relations. The scattered research so far done on this broader concept of patronage is drawn together and extended in this new volume, derived from a conference held inMelbourne as part of 'Renaissance Year' in 1983. The essays, by art historians as well as historians, explore our new understanding of Renaissance Italy as a 'patronage society', and consider its implications for the study of art patronage and patron-client structures wherever they occur.

“'This is a serious and specialized work, which is only partly about art and patronage, and it is welcome news to know that it is only the first of a projected series of publications to be undertaken by the Humanities Research Centre in Canberra in conjunction with the Oxford University Press.'Thomas Tuohy, Apollo”

'important book ... this richly informative and wide-ranging book offers an excellent introduction to the present study of patronage in renaissance Italy and to the problems that study has to face. It also bears witness to the high level of renaissance scholarship in Australia.'Nicolai Rubinstein, The Burlington Magazine'the only book for students that discusses methodology as well as topics, and for this reason alone it is invaluable'Alison Brown, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, The Burlington Magazine'These studies offer many valuable insights into the behaviour of Renaissance patrons both towards art and within society.'Clare Robertson, University of Leicester. Art History

F. W. Kent is a Reader in History at Monash University. Patricia Simons is a Lecturer in Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne.

Patronage, in its broadest sense, has been established as one of the dominant social processes of pre-industrial Europe. This collection examines the role it played in the Italian Renaissance, focusing particularly upon Florence. Traditionally viewed simply as the context for the extraordinary artistic creativity of the Renaissance, patronage has more recently been examined by historians as a comprehensive system of patron-client structures which permeated society and social relations. The scattered research so far done on this broader concept of patronage is drawn together and extended in this new volume, derived from a conference held in Melbourne as part of 'Renaissance Year' in 1983. The essays, by art historians as well as historians, explore our new understanding of Renaissance Italy as a 'patronage society', and consider its implications for the study of art patronage and patron-client structures wherever they occur.

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