Renaissance Splendor

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Renaissance splendor: Italian courts from Milan to Naples" offers an in-depth study of the pillars of the Italian Renaissance: the courts that cultivated and promoted elegance, culture, international politics, and, of course, the arts. These courts were almost always tied to a specific dynasty, such as the Medici in Florence, the Este in Ferrara, the Gonzaga in Mantua, and the Savoy in Turin. While Naples was ruled by a succession of dynasties, the papal court remained a single, enduring institution and a major patron of the arts. The courts fostered writers and artists and gave rise to literary masterpieces such as Baldassar Castiglione's "The Book of the Courtier," the quintessential manual for the perfect courtier, and Ludovico Ariosto’s "Orlando furioso." From Milan to Turin, and from Ferrara to Urbino, we will trace the development of both arts and politics, as theorized in Niccolò Machiavelli's "The Prince." These courts also featured remarkable women, such as Isabella d'Este, duchess of Mantua, and Eleonora of Toledo, duchess of Florence. Theater and spectacle played a crucial role, serving as tools for propaganda and dynastic affirmation. The course will be conducted in Italian.