Renaissance

The Renaissance throughout Europe produced some of the West's most spectacular art, yet this most celebrated of periods is also one of the least understood, often regarded simply as a 'rebirth' of ancient Roman culture. While the art of the Renaissance frequently deals with Classical and Christian themes, it does not concern itself soley with tales of the gods or biblical stories. This new study of the Renaissance explores how fifteenth- and sixteenth-century paintings and sculptures absorbed influences from a wide range of cultures - not only Classical and medieval Europe, but also Byzantium and the Islamic world. With beautiful images by the great masters of the age, and a gazetteer section detailing important public art collections worldwide, Renaissance will appeal to the armchair reader, museum visitor, student of art and anyone interested in one of the greatest contributions to world culture.

Christopher Masters is a writer and lecturer on art based in London. He writes for The Guardian newspaper and is the author of a book on Salvador Dali, as well as numerous articles and contributions to works of reference.