Renaissance - George Holmes

In this history of the renaissance George Holmes surveys the extroadinary impact of the astonishingly rich culture which dramatically affected Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. He examines the social, commercial and political background which enabled the extroadinary flourishing in the arts that took place during this period, stressing the importance of the Great commercial cities, Florence, Bruges, and Venice. Beginning with the Florentine renaissance, he traces the development of humanism in art, politics, science and philosophy and discusses the impact of the High renaissance in Italy on the rest of Europe. Lavishly illustrated and highly readable, this book is the definitive work on the renaissance.