Glory and honour - Andrea Thomas

The Renaissance was the pre-eminent cultural and intellectual movement of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Europe. It began in Italy and spread elsewhere along trade routes and through diplomatic channels. Since the Scottish kingdom was relatively remote, Renaissance impulses were often filtered through intermediaries in other countries, although there was some direct Italian influence too.Consequently, the Scottish version of Renaissance culture was a hybrid with multiple antecedents, adapted to suit the needs of Scottish patrons. The Stewart monarchs and the Scottish aristocracy were poorer than many other princes and nobles but keen to assert their equality in dignity and status.They sought to participate fully in the European mainstream, and saw their cultural patronage as a powerful way to facilitate that aim. The buildings, books and artefacts of the period tell the story of a vibrant and cosmopolitan culture that was innovative and confident as well as imitative and aspirational.

Andrea Thomas has taught at several leading independent schools and writes on aspects of the culture of 16th-century Scotland. She is the author of "Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V""of Scotland, 1528-1542."

'[Thomas is] a natural story-teller whose relaxed style masks exhaustive research [...] engrossing, eye-opening history'
Scottish Review of Books - Rosemary Goring

'Most impressive ... Andrea Thomas embraces her subject with meticulous care'
Scots Magazine

'[B]eautifully illustrated ... this historical examination brings to life artefacts of the era, while painting a picture of an innovative and outward-looking society that has always been open to broader cultural differences'
The Lady