The Italian Renaissance Podcast
The Italian Renaissance Podcast explores fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy, delving into cultural giants, dramatic stories, masterworks of literature, and art. It offers in-depth analysis of how we understand the Renaissance today, catering to both history enthusiasts and general audiences. The podcast provides engaging and digestible insights into Western history, with updates on Instagram.
Episodes
The Marchesa: Author Sarah Dunant on Writing Isabella d'Este
Author and historian Sarah Dunant joined me for a riveting conversation about her new book treating the life of Isabella d'Este, The Marchesa. A master of the historical fiction genre, Sarah walks us through her creative process from the archives of Mantua to the rich pages of her exceptional prose. We discuss art, patronage, and some newfound evidence that uncovers details about Isabella&apo
Ep. 80: Il Sodoma's Scenes of Alexander the Great
Among the many artists employed by Agostino Chigi, Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, better known as Il Sodoma, painted a remarkable fresco cycle of Alexander the Great in Rome's Villa Farnesina. At the center of the discussion is a question: what happens when an ancient story of Alexander, Hephaestion, and Roxana is filtered through the erotic and social culture of Renaissance Rome? Alexander the Grea
Ep. 79: Raphael and the Villa Farnesina
At the height of his career in Rome, Raphael was commissioned by the wealthy banker Agostino Chigi to join a large workforce of artists decorating his villa on the outskirts of central Rome, known today as the Villa Farnesina. The decoration is entirely secular, depicting a wide range of pagan mythologies all throughout what can be considered a pleasure palace. Raphael's major contributions w
Ep. 78: Raphael's Stanza della Segnatura
In this episode, we explore Raphael’s extraordinary decoration of the Vatican’s Stanza della Segnatura, one of the defining achievements of the High Renaissance. At the center is the famous School of Athens, but the true masterpiece is the whole of the room’s larger intellectual and theological program. We examine how Raphael brings together classical philosophy, poetry, law, and Christian theolog
Ep. 77: Michelangelo's Last Judgement
In 1534, Michelangelo was called back to Rome to complete his final work inside the Sistine Chapel for the altar wall, his Last Judgement. In the decades between his painting of the ceiling and his return, Rome was subject to two major historical events: the start of the Protestant Reformation and the 1527 Sack of Rome. This episode looks at the Last Judgement as a product of this new historical s
Ep. 76: Michelangelo and the Sistine Ceiling
Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the defining masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, but its creation was equally defined by friction as much as genius. This episode follows Michelangelo's turbulent relationship with Pope Julius II, from the abrupt cancellation of the pope's monumental tomb commission to the unlikely assignment of painting the chapel's vast cei
Ep. 75: Pope Sixtus IV and the Sistine Chapel
Before the era of the High Renaissance, Pope Sixtus IV commissioned one of the most ambitious artistic projects of the Roman Quattrocento, the Sistine Chapel. In this episode, we explore the chapel's original decoration and the remarkable group of artists, including Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, Signorelli, and Roselli, who transformed its walls into a monumental visual narrative in line
Ep. 74: Renaissance Rome - The Bessarion Chapel
Before the triumphs of Michelangelo and Raphael transformed Rome during the High Renaissance, the foundations of the Roman Humanism were laid by remarkable scholars, patrons, and artists whose stories are often overlooked. In this episode, we explore the extraordinary patronage of Cardinal Basilios Bessarion, the Byzantine humanist whose vision helped bridge the intellectual worlds of East and Wes
Ep. 73: Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael in Florence
Raphael’s years in Florence (c. 1504–1508) placed him at the center of one of the most extraordinary moments in Renaissance art, where he encountered both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo at the height of their powers. Under the Soderini Republic, Florence became a stage for artistic innovation, marked by Michelangelo’s David, Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, and the unrealized battle frescoes commissioned
Ep. 72: The Book of the Courtier
This episode explores the courtly culture of Renaissance Urbino through Baldassare Castiglione’s landmark Book of the Courtier (1528), one of the most influential literary works of the Renaissance. After considering Giovanni Santi’s Cronaca rimata and its celebration of Urbino’s artistic world, the discussion turns to Castiglione’s vision of the ideal courtier, shaped by his experiences in the cou
Ep. 71: Federico da Montefeltro and Urbino feat. Prof. Linda Reynolds
Art Historian Linda Reynolds joins me to discuss the history of the court of Duke Federico da Montefeltro. Ruling over Urbino, the Montefeltro court was among the most important centers in Renaissance Italy. Professor Reynolds first explains how a simple mercenary like Federico was able to rise to the status of Duke. From there, she dives into the Duke's patronage of the arts, looking primary
Ep. 70: Perugino and Raphael - The Marriage of the Virgin
This episode examines how artistic influence and innovation intersect in the work of Perugino and Raphael, using their two Marriage of the Virgin paintings as a lens. It explores the defining qualities of Perugino’s calm, orderly style alongside Raphael’s more dynamic and spatially refined approach. Set against the cultural importance of the subject in Renaissance Perugia, the comparison reveals h
Ep. 69: Perugia and Perugino
This episode explores how Perugia functioned as a dynamic center of Renaissance art and how Perugino emerged as its most influential painter. It considers the city’s political, religious, and economic structures as active forces shaping artistic production, while examining how workshop practices, patronage, and regional identity intersected with broader Florentine influences.At the heart of the di
Michelangelo Reimagined: Justin Garascia on his New Play: Mikey!
Michelangelo takes to the stage, and playwright and actor Justin Garascia joins us to discuss his dynamic reimagining of the early life of Michelangelo. Set in Renaissance Italy, MIKEY! unfolds as a gothic, queer fever dream, moving between the sculpting of David and the painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. As Michelangelo reflects on the life that brought him to this moment, he wrestles with h
Ep. 67: The Sforza Altarpiece
The Sforza Altarpiece (Pala Sforzesca) is among the single most important works of art commissioned by Ludovico il Moro. Through this painting, we can trace both the heavy religious history of Milan and the dynastic ambitions of the Sforza court. By investigating this painting, we can further understand the atmosphere leading to the decline of Sforza power. Additionally, this painting shows the dr
Ep. 66: Leonardo da Vinci in the Sforza Court
There is no better way to explore the art and politics of the Sforza court in Milan than through the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo spent most of his early career employed by Ludovico il Moro, the regent and eventual Duke of Milan. This episode ties together the drama and intrigue of Sforza court politics with the work Leonardo did during his First Milanese Period (1482-1499). Some of Leonard
Ep. 65: Isabella d'Este feat. Eleanor Walker
Art Historian Eleanor Walker joins us this episode to discuss the life and patronage of Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua. Isabella perfectly bridges the northern courts of Este Ferrara and Gonzaga Mantua, serving as the pivotal figure who united the two courts.Eleanor Walker introduces us to the life and vibrant personality of this Renaissance giant, looking at the scope and limitations
Ep. 64: The Camera Picta - Andrea Mantegna in the Gonzaga Court
This episode looks at how the Gonzaga family of Mantua shaped their political image through art patronage. Ludovico Gonzaga, eager to raise his court’s prestige, brought the painter Andrea Mantegna to Mantua in 1460. Under Gonzaga patronage, Mantegna transformed court painting with his mastery of perspective and classical form. Their collaboration produced the fresco cycle in the Camera degli Spos
Ep. 63: Cintho's Desdemona, feat. Michael Curtotti
Join me and writer/translator Michael Curtotti on a discussion about the literary patronage of the Este court. Centered around Micheal's new translation of the playwright and novella author Cinzio, our discuss dives deep into the cultural moment of Duke Ercole d’Este’s Ferrara. Michael walks us through the history of Cinzio and his work, both in theater and prose. Further, Michael leads us th
Ep. 62: Este Ferrara - Borso, Ercole, & Alfonso I
We continue our journey through the Este court of Ferrara, moving from Borso’s decoration of the Palazzo Schifanoia to the ambitious reign of Ercole I. We explore his transformation of Ferrara with the Addizione Erculea and the dazzling Palazzo dei Diamanti, before turning to his son Alfonso and the overlooked brilliance of court painter Dosso Dossi. Finally, we trace how Este patronage shaped Ren
Ep. 61: Este Ferrara - Niccolò III, Leonello, and Borso
In this episode, we explore the rise of the Este family and the transformation of Ferrara into a vibrant Renaissance court. From Niccolò III’s political maneuvering to Leonello’s humanist vision and groundbreaking artistic patronage, we trace how the Este shaped culture and power in northern Italy. We then turn to Borso d’Este’s reign, examining his use of art and spectacle to project authority, i
Ep. 60: Giuliano da Sangallo
The Court of Lorenzo the Magnificent Part 6 of 6: Architecture This episode looks at the most significant works of Lorenzo's court architect and dear friend, Giuliano da Sangallo. Among his most important designs, Sangallo was the chief architect and designer behind the Medici Villa at Poggio a Caiano, a countryside escape for Lorenzo that would serve as a prototype for Renaissance villas tha
Ep. 59: The Pollaiuolo Brothers
The Court of Lorenzo the Magnificent Part 5: Antonio and Piero Pollaiuolo Among the many artists who earned the attention of the Magnificent, the Pollaiuolo brothers left behind an artistic legacy closely tied with Medicean propaganda. This episode explores the role of the Pallaiuolo brothers in the development of Florentine Renaissance art, specifically through the works they completed for the Me
Ep 58: Angelo Poliziano
The Court of Lorenzo the Magnificent Part 4: Angelo Poliziano Born Agnolo Ambrogini in Montepulciano in 1454, Poliziano rose to intellectual supremacy in Laurentian Florence as the premier Humanist and poet of the Medici court. This episode exlpores his education, life, and works in vernacular Italian, namely his Stanze and l'Orfeo. Poliziano is inseparable from the larger history of the Medi
Ep. 57: The Birth of Venus and the Court of Pan
The Court of Lorenzo de' Medici Part 3: Large-Scale Mythological Painting The 1480's in Florence was an age of relative prosperity under Lorenzo the Magnificent. During this period, the visual arts began to take a new shape. Influenced by both classical and contemporary literature and poetry, Lorenzo's court saw the introduction to large-scale mythological painting, ushered in by th
Ep. 56: Lucrezia Tornabuoni de' Medici
The Court of Lorenzo de' Medici Part 2: Lucrezia Tornabuoni Lucrezia Tornabuoni (1427-1482) was one of the key figures in both the political and cultural influence of the Medici family during the late 15th century. She served as a diplomat and stateswoman in the place of her ill husband, Piero the Gouty, and helped manage affairs for Lorenzo and Giuliano during their premature rise to power.
Ep. 55: Lorenzo the Magnificent
The Court of Lorenzo de' Medici Part 1: Lorenzo the Magnificent To engage Lorenzo de' Medici's court in Florence, there is no better topic to introduce the subject than the man himself. This episode takes a glance at the life of Lorenzo as the quintessential "Renaissance Man." In his lifetime, not only was he a devoted head of his family, but a clever statesman, a patron o
Ep. 54: Rome Reborn - Pope Nicholas V
Rome was a neglected swamp when Pope Nicholas V came to power. An extremely well educated humanist, Medici ally, and frequenter of the classicist circles in Florence and Bologna, Nicholas was elected pope in 1447, arriving in a city whose former glory was buried in the mud. The papacy he inherited was fragile, as it recently endured the relocation from Avignon and the infamous Papal Schism. A rela
Ep. 53: Fra Filippo Lippi
Lustful, unpredictable, and mischievous, Fra Filippo Lippi is a notorious figure of the Italian Renaissance. This episode surveys his life, looking primarily at three artworks: the San Lorenzo Annunciation, the Double Portrait at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and his famous Lippina. Together, these works uncover a story about a skilled artist, but one who constantly upset his social structure. W
Ep 52: San Marco, Florence - Fra Angelico, Michelozzo, and Cosimo de' Medici
San Marco, Florence: Nowhere else does the entirety of Renaissance social history converge in such a dynamic way. Upon returning from exile in 1434, Cosimo de' Medici found himself laden with guilt over the means in which his family had acquired their massive fortune. Certainly, with Pope Eugenius IV living in Florence with the Papal Curia, there was no better time for the wealthy banker to i
Ep. 51: Renaissance Modernity - Michelozzo, Jacopo della Quercia, and Domenico Veneziano
What does it look like across three mediums when a new style harmonizes, and the conventions of the Middle Ages take a new form? Looking at three diverse artists and three different patrons, as well as an example of painting, sculpture, and architecture, this episode argues for the legibility of new stylistic concepts that constitute the modernity of the 15th century. Ultimately, this interaction
Ep. 50: Donatello
In this monumental 50th episode, join me in discussing a likewise monumental artist of the early Renaissance: Donatello. This episode examines the landmark works of the Florentine sculptor, taking a close look at his early life, mature works, and cultural impact. Donatello skillfully navigated the practical world of civic sculpture, then became a sought-after court artist in the elite world of ear
Ep. 49: Masaccio
Undoubtedly one of the most important painters of the Florentine Renaissance, Masaccio broke the barriers of convention, producing the first monumental works in the Renaissance style. This episode discusses Masaccio's life and works, focusing on the famous Brancacci Chapel and his Holy Trinity in Santa Maria Novella. A close look at these works illuminates the effects of heightened naturalism
Ep. 48: Gothic Painting - Lorenzo Monaco and Gentile da Fabriano
The early 1400's in Italy saw the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style in painting. In major areas of patronage, be it for churches or wealthy patrons, a new style flourished that was representative of the interconnectivity between European cultures and the wider Mediterranean, one that bridges the Gothic and Renaissance styles - the International Gothic. Looking at two masterw
Ep. 47: Plague and War in the Early Renaissance
While the idea of an entirely joyous rise of Renaissance culture might sound apt for a period known for mesmerizing art and literature, history tells a different story, one of war, of plague, and of death. This episode discusses just a small amount of the social issues that contributed to the rise of Renaissance culture in Italy, from the multiple plagues that continued after the Black Death, to t
Ep. 46: Intro to the Early Renaissance - Art, Literature, and the Black Death
It is time to open the next chapter of our dive into Renaissance history, dialing back to look at the early Renaissance and the Proto-Renaissance. The terminology of periodization is loose and malleable, and brings to light of other renaissances that occurred throughout the Middle Ages. What is the difference between the way classical revival was exercised from the 8th and 12th centuries, and the
Ep. 45: Dr. Alan Pascuzzi, Bronze Casting and "Becoming Michelangelo."
I am joined by the Florence based artist and art historian Dr. Alan Pascuzzi for a thrilling interview about his career as an artist following the techniques of the Renaissance masters. We first discuss the process of becoming a sculptor and painter in the Renaissance techniques. He walks us through his technical process, looking closely at his recent allegorical bronze group for Florida State Uni
Ep. 44: Frank Nero Part 2: San Martino del Vescovo
Join me in conversation with Frank Nero, who takes us on a journey to a hidden gem in Florence, San Martino del Vescovo. This oratory serves as a fascinating case study of the intersections between Medici power and art patronage, as well as offering a glimpse into the everyday of Florentine life in the Quattrocento. The oratory frescoes depict scenes of the deeds of the buonuomini, painted by Dome
Ep.43: Frank Nero Part 1: Teaching Renaissance Art in Florence, Italy
It is with great pleasure that I welcome Frank Nero to the podcast. Nero is an art historian, award-winning educator, and former director of Florida State University Florence. He specializes in on-site lectures, having taught and inspired thousands of students during his career, myself included. The first part of this interview departs from our typical mode of discussion, and looks at the living l
Ep. 42: The Followers of Raphael Part 2: Giovanni da Udine, feat. Esme Garlake
Join me in the continuation of my conversation with ecocritical art historian and climate activist Esme Garlake. In the second part of our interview, we discuss the works of Raphael's pupil, Giovanni da Udine. Giovanni not only had an intense fascination with accurately depicting the natural world, which we discuss via his drawings, but had a substantial role in decorating Agostino Chigi&apos
Ep. 41: The Followers of Raphael Part 1: Ecocritical Art History and Giulio Romano, feat. Esme Garlake
Join me in conversation in two parts with Esme Garlake, an ecocritical art historian and climate activist who centers her research on the interaction between the artist and the natural world. We are talking about two artists who were trained under Raphael, Giulio Romano and Giovanni da Udine. How do animals manifest in their works, and what does it tell us about the social history of sixteenth ce
Ep. 40: Romeo and Juliet: The Italian Renaissance Novella that Inspired Shakespeare, feat. Michael Curtotti
Welcome to the Italian Renaissance Podcast Interview Series!Passionate translator Michael Curtotti joins us on the podcast to discuss the Renaissance novelliere Matteo Bandello and his Romeo and Juliet, which serves as the inspiration to the famous play by William Shakespeare. Curtotti has recently published a new translation of Bandello's novella, a must read for all lovers of Renaissance li
Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci arrived in Milan around the year 1482. Under the patronage of Duke Ludovico Gonzaga, Leonardo painted his famous Last Supper on the wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Still, his technical application of paint was a failure, causing almost immediate damage to the famous work. Between his inadequate innovation, the wars with Napoleon, and WWII, the Last Supper fresc
Ep.38: Veronese and the Inquisition
Season 2 Finale! For the conclusion of this treatment of Renaissance Venice, we discuss Paolo Veronese and his famous painting that enraged the Holy Inquisition: The Supper in the House of Levi. Indeed, upon completion of this painting, the forces of the Counter-Reformation descended upon Veronese, bringing him under interrogation to explain what they deemed to be inappropriate in his art. This di
Ep. 37: Renovatio Urbis - Jacopo Sansovino and Pietro Aretino
Touted as the 'triumvirate' of sixteenth century Venice, Titian, Jacopo Sansovino, and Pietro Aretino were cultural megaliths that bolstered the ambitious city development plan under Doge Andrea Gritti. This episode explores the presence of both Aretino and Sansovino in Venice. Aretino was a famed writer, open homosexual, and merciless critic of the famed nobles of Italy. His court prese
Ep. 36: Gaspara Stampa - Venetian Renaissance Poet
Gaspara Stampa is among the most important poets of the Renaissance. Living in Venice, she was a central figure in the music and literary scene thriving during the sixteenth century. Her Rime, published the year of her death, give us insight to the brilliant mind of an upper class socialite with a complicated love life, far flung from the rigid confines of what we might expect from a Renaissance w
Ep. 35: Michelangelo in Venice
In 1494 upon the expulsion of the Medici from Florence, Michelangelo Buonarotti left his native city for the Republic of Venice. His stay there was brief and mostly undocumented. Yet, close comparison of source material and stylistic analysis reveals that perhaps Michelangelo was more influenced by his time in Venice than previously considered. The master all'antica marble sculptor Tullio Lom
Ep. 34: The Titian List, feat. Gee Cooper
With great pleasure, I welcome Gee Cooper back to the show to discuss the afterlife of Titian. Given his proliferation and international appeal, the works of Titian and his role as court painter had a ripple effect in courts throughout Europe. Among the most important figures is Charles I of England who looked to expand the Royal Collection after a visit to Spain where he saw Titian's poesie
Ep. 33: Titian: A Life in Three Paintings
Known as the greatest master of the Venetian Renaissance, Titian's painting career spanned most of the sixteenth century. This episode aims to give an overview of his life and works, focusing on three paintings from three different genres: an altarpiece, a portrait, and a mythological scene. Just as they represent different genres, the paintings discussed serve as timestamps in his career, m
Ep. 32: Mehmed II and Italian Art in the Ottoman Courts
The conquest of Constantinople placed the Ottoman Empire at the center of the Mediterranean world. Sultan Mehmed II thrived under the cultural pluralism of his new court, procuring artists from both sides of his world: Italy and Persia. However, the Italianization of the Ottoman Empire is locked within Mehmed's reign, as the greater Ottoman court did not share his appreciation for European ar
Ep. 31: Venice and the Islamic Lands, feat. Julia Bender
I sat down with Julia Bender, a student and researcher of Islamic and medieval art, to discuss the relationship between the Venetian Republic and the Islamic powers that competed for mercantile control of the Mediterranean. Looking at the Mamluks and Ottomans, two major dynasties that coincide with the Renaissance period, we discuss what exchanges were being made, how Venice served as a transition
Ep. 30: Giorgione and Titian: Sleeping Venus and the Venus of Urbino
In our third and final discussion on Giorgione, this episode covers his final work, the Sleeping Venus, which was finished by Titian upon his death. A close look at the history of this painting helps understand the development of Titian's style in light of Giorgione, which ultimately arrives at his most famous work, the Venus of Urbino. This conversation compares the two paintings, understand
Ep. 29: Giorgione's Tempest, feat. Professor Monika Schmitter
I sat down with Venetian Renaissance expert Monika Schmitter to discuss the enigmatic Tempest by Giorgione. Why is this image so difficult to define? What is the current state of scholarly interpretation of its form and function? This interview covers the complicated history of the painting, in part responding to Prof. Schmitter's recent publication on the work, available here: https://www.ac
Ep. 28: Giorgione
This episode explores Giorgione -Giorgio da Castelfranco - a founding artist of the Venetian High Renaissance. Although he lived a short life, the impact of his art echoes throughout the history of Venetian art. With influences like Giovanni Bellini, Leonardo da Vinci and Francesco Petrarch, his pictorial style is elaborated into a poetic mode of painting. This discussion focuses on Giorgione in r
Ep. 27: Venetian Sculpture - The Lombardo Workshop
The Lombardo family workshop in Venice was the most prominent in the city for the development of Renaissance sculpture. This episode looks briefly at the history of the family before taking a more focused look at the works of Tullio Lombardo and how he revolutionized sculpture in Venice. What happens when classical revival combines with Netherlandish and Venetian design influence? Tullio worked wi
Ep. 26: Venetian Palaces: Gothic to Renaissance
Venice is a unique blending of cultural influences that has a lasting impact on artistic development and style. This episode focuses on the the transition from Venetian Gothic palace architecture in Venice to Renaissance style. How do we talk about the unique architecture of Venice? What historical changes impacted the shift in style from Gothic to Renaissance? How did the Venetians respond to Flo
Ep 25: Jacopo Bellini's Impact and Legacy
Jacopo Bellini is one of the most influential figures in the development of a Renaissance style in Venice. This discussion takes a close look at Jacopo as an innovator and teacher. What influences did he pass on to his sons Gentile and Giovanni, and where did they come from? This episode looks closely at Giovanni Bellini's Saint Giobbe Altarpiece, which serves as an example of Jacopo's
Ep 24: San Marco - Venetian Renaissance
The foundational myths and stories of Venice revolve around the importance of Saint Mark the Evangelist and Venetian relations to Alexandria. In this discussion, we sort through the stories about the theft of his body, the construction of his basilica, and how this influences art and society in Renaissance Venice - namely in painting. Through Gentile and Giovanni Bellini, and Tintoretto, paintings
Ep 23: Introduction to Renaissance Venice
Season 2 is all about Renaissance Venice! For this season premier, we are laying the foundations of the cultural forces that existed in Venice and how they interact with the revival of classical antiquity. This episode explores the geography of Venice and how it shaped a city that is wholly unique in landscape, artistic production and style. This discussion contains everything you need to know bef
Ep. 22: Filippo Brunelleschi Part 3: The Architect
This third and final installment on Filippo Brunelleschi focuses on his architectural works beyond the Dome of Florence. Brunelleschi's style, in part, defines how we read Renaissance architecture, creating the baseline standard and influencing generations of architects to come. This episode principally explores the Ospedale degli Innocenti and the Medici church of San Lorenzo, contextualizi
Ep. 21: Filippo Brunelleschi Part 2: The Dome of Florence
How was the Dome of Florence built? What were the circumstances that helped Brunelleschi solve the greatest architectural mystery of the Renaissance? This episode talks about the predominant Gothic style, and how Brunelleschi adapted it through his sojourn in Rome. What was the role of the Roman Pantheon, and did an unnamed female architect influence the final design of the lantern of the Duomo? M
Ep. 20: Filippo Brunelleschi Part 1: The Competition Panels
Kicking off this Interseason Trilogy, this episode discusses the early life of Filippo Brunelleschi, the early phases of the construction of the Duomo, and the famous competition against Lorenzo Ghiberti for the commission of the bronze doors of the Baptistry of Florence. All of this is meant as a prelude of how Brunelleschi came to be the architect who solved the mystery of how to construct the l
Holiday Special: The Magi of Florence
The Magi, or the Three Wise Men who followed the star of Bethlehem to find the infant Christ, are essential components of understanding religious life in Florence. In the 1400's under Cosimo de' Medici, the culture around the Magi was appropriated to establish a parallel between local devotion and Medici power and patronage. This episode highlights how the Magi became a symbol for the Me
Ep 18: Ghosts of Italy Halloween Special
The Season 1 finale brings you five tales from Italy of ghosts, witches, murder, and plague. Story-telling and folklore are essential aspects of Renaissance history and society. Many of the stories told on this episode are grounded in truth. Whether or not the supernatural lays its cold, chill hands upon these moments or not, is up to you. Why is a disembodied head on the walls of Santa Maria Mag
Ep. 17: Rethinking Christopher Columbus
All across the United States debates are flaring up around the legacy of Christopher Columbus and social traditions that spawned from his journey across the Atlantic. In light of a developing history around Columbus, one that highlights his cruelty and questionable navigational ability, the call has been made: eliminate Columbus Day and replace it with a holiday that elevates those who fell victim
Ep. 16: Botticelli's Primavera
The name Sandro Botticelli is inseparable from a rich visual vocabulary of mythological subjects, abstract bodies, and an achieved pictorial aesthetic that diverts the mind from the vast complexities of his work. Yet, when we dive deep and look close, his works demonstrate a series of compound interpretations that render them often puzzling and difficult. Looking at his Primavera, this discussion
Ep.15: The Cult of the Saints
Equally as important as humanism, naturalism, innovation, and invention, the Cult of the Saints is a long standing tradition that continues to thrive during the Renaissance period. Only through understanding this current and ongoing cultural trend can art and society in Italy be properly comprehended. This discussion details the position of saints, how they are worshiped, and how their pictorial
Ep. 14: Simonetta Vespucci, La Sans Pareille
She was the ultimate Muse of the Renaissance, inspiring princes, painters and poets. This discussion looks to unpack the shockwave that followed the arrival of Simonetta Vespucci in Florence. Who was she, and how does history inform her impact on the Italian Renaissance? We dive deeper, interpreting how to digest the questions around attributions of her image, and how virtue, courtship, and Neopla
Ep. 13: Michelangelo's Bacchus
Let's take a deep and thorough look at one of Michelangelo's most exceptional works, the drunken, stammering Bacchus. Jumping off from where the Young Michelangelo episode ended, this discussion covers the commission, provenance, and a detailed visual analysis and interpretation of the artist's first major life-sized marble, Bacchus, the god of wine and fertility. Merch: https://www
Ep. 12: Lamentations on the Modern Renaissance
We are shifting gears as I share my experiences on how the Renaissance fits into our modern world. Listen to these stories, some funny some not, that help paint a picture of how the Renaissance is engaged by scholars, students, and tourists. I do not intend to show it in its glory, but rather the difficulties and tensions. Galleries in Italy are overcrowded. The process of art education is harmed
Ep. 11: Dante's Divine Comedy Part 2: Purgatory and Paradise
In our final discussion of Dante's masterwork, The Divine Comedy, this analysis seeks not only to outline these last two books, but to show them as precursors to Renaissance thought, grounding Dante as both a writer of the Middle Ages and an object of proto-humanism. What must Dante do to ascend Mount Purgatory and reach the heavenly realm, and how does his poetics amplify this? How does his
Ep. 10: Dante's Divine Comedy Part 1: Inferno
Abandon all hope, you who enter here, into this gruesome telling of Dante's Inferno! This discussion aims to breakdown the first canticle of The Divine Comedy into one digestible episode, through all nine circles of Hell. Get insight into Dante's poetic meter and style on the work as a whole, all while listening to excerpts from the work to outline how Dante punishes his sinners, deeper
Ep. 9: Dante Alighieri
Covering key elements of his life and essential works, this episode tracks the life of The Great Poet Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy. Using key literary movements, we discuss the greater influences on Dante's poetry, the dolce stil novo, and how it fits into the greater context of Mediterranean literature. Additionally, the podcast covers in part his Vita nova, demonstrating the
Ep. 8: Galileo, feat. Ian Billig
In this episode, I chat with Ian Billig about Galileo Galilei and the development of Renaissance science. Ian, skilled in physical sciences and mathematics, as well as a self-taught classicist, walks us through the development of classical natural philosophy through Galileo, and how this translates into our concept of modern science. Who was Galileo and what did his work entail? What was the sta
Ep. 7: The Young Michelangelo
Let's talk Michelangelo! This episode covers the essential beginning of Michelangelo's life and career, from his training to his first major commission. His life is a complicated one, though it is a story to tell full of drama and scandal. This discussion focuses primarily on Michelangelo as a student , from the workshop of Ghirlandaio to the Medici Garden under Lorenzo the Magnificent.
Ep. 6: Leonardo da Vinci
Undoubtedly one of the most well-known Renaissance figures, Leonardo da Vinci has ascended beyond the realm of artist, appearing more as mythic or legendary. This episode explores not only how that came to be, but also why it is important that we look at his life with a touch of scrutiny in order to better understand Leonardo as he was, rather than how he was mythologized. This episode likewise co
Ep. 5: Andrea Palladio and the English Country House, feat. Gee Cooper
We are very pleased to welcome our first guest for this episode, Gee Cooper. Gee works for the National Trust, specializing in the history and conservation of English country houses, primarily Claydon House and Uppark. With a thorough grasp on all of the major architectural intricacies of these houses, Gee and I discuss the lasting impact of the Renaissance architectural style of Andrea Palladio,
Ep. 4: The Pazzi Conspiracy
This episode takes a glance at the general history around the infamous Pazzi Conspiracy that culminated over the Florentine Easter festivities in April of 1478, leading to the gruesome murder of Giuliano de' Medici, and the blood bath that followed. Happy Easter!Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShopSupport the show
Ep. 3: Renaissance Sculpture: Donatello's David
Using Donatello's David, this episode seeks to analyze and interpret the highly debated complications of this famous bronze. This work is an emblem of sculpture as political, subversive, and multi-layered. Through it, we can learn the general modes of analysis of Italian Renaissance sculpture in the Quattrocento. Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShopThe Florentine Renaissance Course
Ep. 2: Fundamentals of Italian Renaissance Painting
This episode details the basics of the Italian Renaissance painting, covering medium and contracts, color and composition, and the culture and structure around them. Using Renaissance rock stars like Leonardo da Vinci, Ghirlandaio, and Raffaele, this talk demonstrates the complex structures around the development and changes of the general Renaissance painting in the 14/1500's. Merch: https:
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