This episode examines the extraordinary early Renaissance fresco cycle in the family chapel of Giovanni Tornabuoni, who was the uncle of Lorenzo the Magnificent de' Medici. It was while Ghirlandaio was working on these frescoes in Santa Maria Novella in the 1480s that a 13-year-old apprentice named Michelangelo Buonarroti entered his workshop, who may have left his mark in the paintings.
Jul 14, 2021•24 min
In 1483, the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception commissioned Leonardo da Vinci and Ambrogio and Evangelista de Predis to paint an altarpiece for their chapel in the church of San Francesco Grande in Milan. Due to a controversy regarding payment to the artists, it appears that the painting was never delivered. This episode will examine the controversy surrounding the two versions of the same subject – one in the Louvre, the other in the National Gallery in London.
Jul 07, 2021•23 min
From the characters in Duccio's and Leonardo's Last Suppers, to Vasari's "Lives of the Artists", to why it took so long for the Renaissance to begin, to Raphael's over-active sex life, this episode answers the very questions that you ask me about the great art, artists and history of the Italian Renaissance.
Jun 30, 2021•28 min
In 1482, Leonardo da Vinci sent a letter to the then regent of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, in hopes of landing the position of court artist of the duchy of Milan. This episode will examine this letter, which is essentially the resume of the great artist, and how someone like Leonardo would qualify himself for a place of employment!
Jun 23, 2021•20 min
For over 500 years it was believed that the brownish monochrome look of the Adoration was the work of Leonardo. That is, until Maurizio Seracini’s in-depth scientific analysis of 2001 proved beyond a doubt that this was not true. This exclusive interview will address the results of Seracini’s investigation, as well as the backlash of fierce opposition and accusations against these findings which have endured for the last two decades.
Jun 16, 2021•36 min
In 1481, Leonardo began work on a major altarpiece for the church of San Donato a Scopeto. At the same time, he sent his resume to the ruler of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, in hopes of landing the position of court artist for that duchy. This episode examines Leonardo’s painting of the Adoration of the Magi - most likely left unfinished because of the artist's departure for Milan - and why much of what we see today may not be by the hand of Leonardo.
Jun 09, 2021•22 min
This episode will examine Leonardo's groundbreaking portrait of a young Florentine woman named Ginevra de’ Benci, which is the only painting by the great Renaissance genius in the Americas. Exquisitely conserved, despite it being cut down, it is one of the earliest examples of a 3/4 frontal pose in Italian portraiture.
Jun 02, 2021•23 min
This episode will analyze Leonardo’s earliest known painting for the church of San Bartolomeo a Monte Oliveto, which he painted at only 20 years of age. Leonardo’s early works were clear indicators of this unique artistic vision and superlative talent. The Annunciation is not only stunningly beautiful, but also introduces two of Leonardo's signature innovations - sfumato and atmospheric perspective, clearly demonstrating his interest in the science of optics.
May 26, 2021•26 min
This episode will attempt to unravel the mystery behind one of the world’s most famous paintings – the Birth of Venus by Botticelli. Was the artist's muse the legendary Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci, who is still reputed to be the most beautiful woman of Renaissance Florence? Just who was this legendary woman, and what was her relationship to the great Renaissance painter? Find out in this episode that is dedicated to the Marilyn Monroe of the Renaissance.
May 19, 2021•24 min
On April 26, 1478, Giuliano de’ Medici lay dead on the pavement of Florence cathedral with 19 stab wounds serving as testimony to the vicious attack that he had just suffered. Had his assassins succeeded in eliminating his older brother, Lorenzo “il Magnifico” de’ Medici, that day as well, the history of the western Europe, and the world for that matter, would have been drastically altered. This episode will examine the protagonists, motivation, and plot behind one of history’s greatest conspira...
May 12, 2021•35 min
Decades before Michelangelo climbed up on the nearly 70 feet of scaffolding to adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a veritable “All-Star Team” of late-15th- century artists had already decorated its walls. Artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pietro Perugino, and Luca Signorelli were sent to Rome by Lorenzo “il Magnifico” de’ Medici to pay homage to the original patron and namesake of the chapel – Pope Sixtus IV. This episode will examine the pre-history of the Sistine C...
May 05, 2021•22 min
The Birth of Venus is one of the world’s most famous paintings and depicts how Venus, the Roman goddess of love, came into being, This episode will examine the style, composition and symbolism of the painting, as well as discussing those factors that give the painting its timeless appeal.
Apr 28, 2021•20 min
When Botticelli painted the Primavera in the 1470s, he opened up a veritable Pandora’s Box. No longer would Renaissance artists be limited to simply dressing Christian saints in togas and sandals, they could now gradually introduce the very literature, philosophy and religion of the ancient Greco-Roman world into their own art. This episode unpacks Botticelli’s great allegorical painting by identifying its characters and their meaning.
Apr 21, 2021•21 min
From the functionality of Renaissance buildings, to the anatomical details in the work of Piero della Francesca, to the religious orientation of Emperor Constantine, to the authenticity of Christian relics, this episode answers the very questions that you ask me about the great art, artists and history of the Italian Renaissance.
Apr 14, 2021•27 min
This episode is the second part of a two-part episode about the extraordinary 15th-century Florentine artist who is best known as the master of Leonardo da Vinci. We examine Verrocchio's later sculptures such as the "Putto with a Dolphin", "Lady with a Primrose" and his "Equestrian Monument to Bartolomeo Colleoni" in Venice, Italy. We also discuss a painting by Verrrochio executed in collaboration with Leonardo da Vinci.
Apr 07, 2021•24 min
This first part of a two-part episode examines the art and career of the extraordinary sculptor who is best known as the master of Leonardo da Vinci. Although often overshadowed by the notoriety of his pupil, Verrocchio was one of the most significant sculptors in history. He was also one of the most influential artists of the Renaissance as other of his pupils included Domenico Ghirlandaio and Pietro Perugino, who in turn were masters to Michelangelo and Raphael respectively.
Mar 31, 2021•26 min
Kenneth Clark described Della Francesca’s painting as the “the greatest small painting in the world.” Much has been written about the enigmatic meaning of the work, including it serving as a metaphor for the fall of Constantinople. This episode examines the iconography of the famous painting and its various interpretations.
Mar 24, 2021•23 min
This episode examines the extraordinary paintings in the second leg of the "Piero della Francesca Trail" in the Tuscan towns of San Sepolcro and Monterchi. From Piero's majestic "Madonna della Misericordia," to his iconic "Resurrection," and finally to his moving fresco of "The Madonna del Parto," learn about Piero's works in southeastern Tuscany, which are some of the most beautiful of the Italian Renaissance.
Mar 17, 2021•21 min
This episode examines the extraordinary fresco cycle in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, Italy. Painted by Piero della Francesca beginning in 1452 in the high chapel of the church, the frescoes are one the most important painting cycles of the early Renaissance and one of the artist's best-known works.
Mar 10, 2021•25 min
This episode examines Andrea Mantegna's extraordinary early frescoes in the Augustinian church of the Eremitani in Padua, Italy. Despite being largely destroyed by Allied bombs in March 1944, the paintings (which have been heavily reconstructed) are still considered some of the most important expressions of early Renaissance painting.
Mar 03, 2021•23 min
This episode explores Donatello's extraordinary artistic production during his sojourn in Padua during the 1440s. From his milestone Equestrian Monument to Gattamelata , to his refined bronze Crucifix , to his 3-dimensional sculptural sacra conversazione and complex perspectival bronze relief sculptures adorning the high altar of the basilica, Donatello once again demonstrates his almost unlimited and unparalleled range of artistic expression.
Feb 24, 2021•27 min
This episode examines the two monumental equestrian frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno in Florence cathedral that represent two celebrated mercenary captains who had honorably served the Florentine Republic in the 14th and 15th centuries. These works represent two of the earliest Renaissance revivals of memorial equestrian imagery since Antiquity.
Feb 17, 2021•25 min
From the Crucifix in Santo Spirito attributed to Michelangelo, to ancient Roman building materials, to patronage in 15th-century Italy, to Raphael's sex life, this episode answers the very questions that you ask me about the great art and artists of the Italian Renaissance.
Feb 10, 2021•31 min
This episode examines the Camera degli Sposi (1465-1474), which is Andrea Mantegna’s most famous work. Decorating the reception room of the Marquis of Mantua, Ludovico II Gonzaga, Mantegna created an incredibly vivid “picture” of life at a Renaissance court. In addition to the various portraits of the royal family that Mantegna included in his fresco, he also captured the less "noble" elements of court life such as the dwarves/jesters and actual portraits of the royal dogs.
Feb 03, 2021•31 min
This episode examines the history and architecture of one of the milestone churches of the Renaissance that was designed by the great architect Leon Battista Alberti. Home to one Christianity's most important relics - the blood of Christ - the ruler of Mantua, Ludovico Gonzaga, wanted Alberti to design a Classically-inspired church that would be a fitting monument to such an important holy object.
Jan 27, 2021•26 min
This episode examines the architectural style and history of Florence's only Renaissance-style church facade at the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which was designed by the architect Leon Battista. From its classically-inspired forms, to the abundance of heraldic symbolism of both the Rucellai and Medici families, all the way to the inscription celebrating the patron of the facade, the facade is a perfect reflection of the beautiful complexity of Renaissance Florence.
Jan 20, 2021•25 min
This episode is the fourth and final episode of our examination of the construction history of Brunelleschi's great Basilica of Santo Spirito in Florence, Italy. We look specifically at the most sensational and well-known controversy concerning the building of the church regarding how many doors should have been incorporated into the facade of the church. A controversy that was brought all the way to Lorenzo il Magnifico de' Medici himself to resolve and that was finally decided by a city-wide p...
Jan 13, 2021•31 min
This episode continues to examine the construction history of Brunelleschi's great Renaissance-style church. Based on extraordinarily detailed archival records regarding the construction of the church over nearly a decade, we are able to paint an incredibly vivid picture of how, literally, brick by brick and column by column the church was built. We also discuss some of the most important deviations made from Brunelleschi's original plan and identify those historical figures who were responsible...
Jan 06, 2021•31 min
This episode continues to examine the construction history of Brunelleschi's great Renaissance basilica. Based on the findings from my book about the church, we will examine how the various chapel types and chapel sales directly reflect the progress of construction at Santo Spirito.
Dec 30, 2020•31 min
This episode explores the architecture and early building history of the Brunelleschi's great Renaissance church. By comparing the account of Brunelleschi's earliest biographer to the known extant archival documentation, it is clear that construction on the church began shortly before the architect's death.
Dec 23, 2020•30 min
