Jacob Burckhardt's Claim

Jacob Burckhardt claimed that the state in Renaissance Italy became a work of art.

Book Focus

In this book, the authors illuminate the corollary: that art in Italy became a work of state. They study centres of power under three distinctive governments - a civic republic of the 14th century, a princely court of the 15th, and an absolutist state of the 16th. The authors argue that, no less than armies, laws and taxes, painted halls of state were strategic instruments, tactical weapons and technical machines of government.

Publication Note

This title was originally published in 1992.

Jacob Burckhardt claimed that the state in Renaissance Italy became a work of art. In this book, the authors illuminate the corollary: that art in Italy became a work of state. They study centres of power under three distinctive governments - a civic repu