Shows
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 60: Giuliano da SangalloSend us a textThe 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 that came after. Additionally, Lorenzo and Sangallo were involved in the design and creation of the splendid church of Santa Maria delle Carceri in Prato. Overall, this podcast ad...2025-06-2326 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 59: The Pollaiuolo BrothersSend us a textThe 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 Medici Palace: The Labors of Hercules. Later reappropriated, this episode also dives into how Hercules is used as a Florentine political symbol and is adaptable as both a pro-Medici and an...2025-05-2625 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp 58: Angelo PolizianoSend us a textThe 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 Medici court. His output is directly tied to Medici family. He was friends with Giuliano and witnessed his murder at the climax of the infamous Pazzi Conspiracy. He was loved by Lu...2025-05-1231 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 57: The Birth of Venus and the Court of PanSend us a textThe 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 the famed Sandro Botticelli. This episode looks closely at the formation of Botticelli's Birth of Venus, as well as the subsequent Court of Pan by Luca Signorelli in 1490. We discuss the cultural an...2025-04-2825 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 56: Lucrezia Tornabuoni de' MediciSend us a textThe 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. In addition to her stately duties, Lucrezia was also an important patron and an achieved poet. This episode looks at the broader scope of Lu...2025-04-1425 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 55: Lorenzo the MagnificentSend us a textThe 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 of art, literature, and philosophy, and an exceptional architect and poet. More masterfully, Lorenzo had to combine all of these to create decades of cu...2025-03-3130 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 54: Rome Reborn - Pope Nicholas VSend us a textRome 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 relatively peaceful man, Nicholas V was intent on dispelling further papal conflicts and focus on rebuilding the Eternal City. Only through his mass patronage of a...2024-11-0533 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 53: Fra Filippo LippiSend us a textLustful, 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. We use his work to glimpse into the world of Renaissance women, including the nun Lucrezia Buti who he stole from her convent and eventually married. Beyond the works, we explore...2024-10-2226 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp 52: San Marco, Florence - Fra Angelico, Michelozzo, and Cosimo de' MediciSend us a textSan 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 invest in religious buildings, namely the convent of San Marco. On this site, Cosimo de' Medici would display the wide range of his patronage, extending to a...2024-10-0828 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 51: Renaissance Modernity - Michelozzo, Jacopo della Quercia, and Domenico VenezianoSend us a textWhat 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 gives insight to the intentions of the patrons in question, Cosimo de' Medici, Paolo Guinigi, and the Uzzano family (or Capponi?). In doing so, works like Michelozzo's P...2024-09-2429 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 50: DonatelloSend us a textIn 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 early modern Italy. Looking closely at three sculptures in three mediums, this discussion details Donatello's vast innovations towards embedding life and sensation in his figures, an effect that would pulse t...2024-09-1034 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 49: MasaccioSend us a textUndoubtedly 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 and linear perspective as artists looked away from the conventions of Gothic painting, particularly in the Holy Trinity, which demonstrated a new mastery over perspectival techniques, paving the way for future Renaissance...2024-08-2726 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 48: Gothic Painting - Lorenzo Monaco and Gentile da FabrianoSend us a textThe 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 masterworks, one from Lorenzo Monaco and one from Gentile da Fabriano, this episode examines the historical moment and the stylistic factors that unify and separate the Gothic and International Gothic in Italy. 2024-08-1326 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 47: Plague and War in the Early RenaissanceSend us a textWhile 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 the banking crisis in Florence at the dawn of the Hundred Years' War, and Milanese military aggression under Gian Galeazzo Visconti. In the 14t...2024-07-3028 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 46: Intro to the Early Renaissance - Art, Literature, and the Black DeathSend us a textIt 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 world of Renaissance Italy? This episode provides the fundaments of the earliest years of the Renaissance in Florence. The discussion links the literary developments of Dante, P...2024-07-1625 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 45: Dr. Alan Pascuzzi, Bronze Casting and "Becoming Michelangelo."Send us a textI 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 University in Florence. Our conversation drifts to the monumental Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini, where Alan talks us through the relationship between the casting process in the Renaissance and the...2024-04-1647 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 44: Frank Nero Part 2: San Martino del VescovoSend us a textJoin 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 Domenico Ghirlandaio and his workshop. Nero gives us a detailed history of the foundation and function of the space, as well as a...2024-04-0245 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp.43: Frank Nero Part 1: Teaching Renaissance Art in Florence, ItalySend us a textIt 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 legacy of Renaissance art from the perspective of someone who teaches it outside of the classroom. Not only does Nero provide inside information on the structure of international e...2024-03-1945 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 42: The Followers of Raphael Part 2: Giovanni da Udine, feat. Esme GarlakeSend us a textJoin 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's Villa Farnesina in Rome alongside Raphael and Giulio Romano.Beyond the Renaissance, Esme provides valuable perspective on climate activism in museum spaces, and the role of art in how...2024-03-0532 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 41: The Followers of Raphael Part 1: Ecocritical Art History and Giulio Romano, feat. Esme GarlakeSend us a textJoin 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 century Italy? Part one focuses on establishing how an ecocritical approach is used to analyze Renaissance art via Raphael before turning to the Palazzo T...2024-02-2032 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 40: Romeo and Juliet: The Italian Renaissance Novella that Inspired Shakespeare, feat. Michael CurtottiSend us a textWelcome 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 literature. Purchase the book here:English only: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMPFGPCJ English-Italian Parallel Language Edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645844608For more information o...2024-02-0646 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastLeonardo da Vinci's Last SupperSend us a textLeonardo 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 fresco has absorbed an excessive amount of damage. This discussion looks at the history of Last Supper depictions leading up to Leonardo, from the Early Christian catacombs to B...2023-11-2224 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp.38: Veronese and the InquisitionSend us a textSeason 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 discussion details the painting itself along with the trial that condemned it within the greater context of the Protestant Reformation, the Counter-Reformation, and the Roman Inquisition as it manifested in Ve...2023-09-1922 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 37: Renovatio Urbis - Jacopo Sansovino and Pietro AretinoSend us a textTouted 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 presence was one of high drama and unease, his pen a fearsome instrument of both mockery and flattery. Sansovino was a renowned architect, one who brings design ideals of the Roman Renaissance to t...2023-09-0524 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 36: Gaspara Stampa - Venetian Renaissance PoetSend us a textGaspara 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 woman in a male dominated world.Looking at her life and two sonnets, this discussion elaborates her role within the larger context...2023-08-2227 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 35: Michelangelo in VeniceSend us a textIn 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 Lombardo had likely completed his masterpiece Adam the year before Michelangelo's arrival. Was the divine Michelangelo inspired by a Venetian Renaissance master before creating his own large-scale Bacchus, a marble nude figure modelled on...2023-08-0827 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 34: The Titian List, feat. Gee CooperSend us a textWith 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 series and was permanently changed. The Titian List is the inventory of his works by Titian until his execution and the dispersal of his collection. 2023-07-2553 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 33: Titian: A Life in Three PaintingsSend us a textKnown 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, marking his earliest masterpiece, the height of his career, and one of his last works. By doing this, Titian's variety of skill and talent is put on full display, sorting th...2023-07-1126 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 32: Mehmed II and Italian Art in the Ottoman CourtsSend us a textThe 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 art and design. Gentile Bellini arrived in Istanbul around 1479. This episode looks at his experience and works produced during his stay, elaborating them in relation to Mehmed II and h...2023-06-2726 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 31: Venice and the Islamic Lands, feat. Julia BenderSend us a textI 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 point for Eastern goods into Europe, and the major influence of Islamic innovations in Venice. This episode also covers essential information about Aldus Manutius, his printing press, and...2023-06-1236 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 30: Giorgione and Titian: Sleeping Venus and the Venus of UrbinoSend us a textIn 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, understanding Titian's masterpiece as a result of Giorgione's influence. Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShopInstagram/Facebook: italian_renaissance_podcast Get additional content b...2023-05-3031 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 29: Giorgione's Tempest, feat. Professor Monika SchmitterSend us a textI 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.academia.edu/98650605/Describing_Giorgiones_Tempest_Iconography_Genre_Interpretation Prof. Schmitter is also the author of "The Art Collector in Early Modern Italy: Andrea Odoni and his Venetian Palace," available here: 2023-05-1632 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 28: GiorgioneSend us a textThis 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 relation to major cultural shifts in Italy around the year 1500. Using his so-called Laura from 1506, Giorgione is elaborated as a poetic painter, decoding visual symbols and subverting iconographical norms. 2023-05-0228 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 27: Venetian Sculpture - The Lombardo WorkshopSend us a textThe 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 with a large number of classical and contemporary influences resulting in a new sculptural genre. He additionally expanded the design vocabulary of the monumental tomb of the Venetian Doge's...2023-04-1825 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 26: Venetian Palaces: Gothic to RenaissanceSend us a textVenice 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 Florentine artists, and the hosting of the Medici? Listen in to learn about the Doge's Palace and the subsequent architecture of Venetian nobility. Merch: https://www.etsy.com/s...2023-04-0428 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp 25: Jacopo Bellini's Impact and LegacySend us a textJacopo 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 lasting impact and the trajectory of future Venetian Renaissance Art. Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShopInstagram: italian_renaissance_podcast Support the sh...2023-03-2124 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp 24: San Marco - Venetian RenaissanceSend us a textThe 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 of the legend of Saint Mark and the link to Alexandria gives us a means to read Venetian identity, which is thoroughly explored in this episode. Merch...2023-03-0732 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp 23: Introduction to Renaissance VeniceSend us a textSeason 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 before diving into the lagoon, contextualizing Venice between empires, between religions, illuminating the inevitable visual culture that brewed in this unique space. Merch: https://www...2023-02-2126 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 22: Filippo Brunelleschi Part 3: The ArchitectSend us a textThis 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, contextualizing secular and religious architecture with larger themes of architectural design and Florentine society. Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShopInstagram/ FB: italian_renaissance_podcastYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@theitalianrenaissancepodca29152023-01-2627 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 21: Filippo Brunelleschi Part 2: The Dome of FlorenceSend us a textHow 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? Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShopFollow us on instagram for images and updates about the show: @italian_renaissance_podcast Get additional content b...2023-01-1626 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp. 20: Filippo Brunelleschi Part 1: The Competition PanelsSend us a textKicking 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 largest dome in the world. Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShopGet additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon...2023-01-0927 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastHoliday Special: The Magi of FlorenceSend us a textThe 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 Medici family, and how the use of a popular Christmas theme enabled a vivid propaganda based on establishing the Medici as a global dynastic entity. Merch: https...2022-12-2225 min
The Italian Renaissance PodcastEp 18: Ghosts of Italy Halloween SpecialSend us a textThe 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 Maggiore? How did the bones of 800 bodies come to decorate the Otranto Cathedral? What happened when the cruel culture of the Inquisition believed i...2022-10-2726 min