Rebuilding The Renaissance
279 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 202 ratingsThis podcast will explore the development of the art, architecture, culture and history in Italy, from ancient Roman times through the Renaissance. Listeners will develop an understanding of Italy’s role in the development of Western civilization and an ability to appreciate and understand works of art in their historical context.
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Episodes
Episode 128 - Answers to Open Questions Part VIII
June 30, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBFrom 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.
Episode 127 - Leonardo da Vinci's Resume
June 23, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBIn 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!
Episode 126 - An Interview with Maurizio Seracini -“Leonardo's Adoration of the Magi: The Rediscovery of a Masterpiece”
June 16, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBFor 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.
Episode 125 - Florence: Uffizi Gallery - Leonardo da Vinci's Adoration of the Magi
June 09, 2021 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBIn 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.
Episode 124 - Leonardo da Vinci's "Portrait of Ginevra de' Benci" (National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC)
June 02, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 22.2 MBThis 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.
Episode 123 - Florence: Uffizi Gallery - Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation
May 26, 2021 10:00 - 26 minutes - 25.3 MBThis 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.
Episode 122 - Botticelli's Muse - Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci
May 19, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBThis 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.
Episode 121 - History - The Pazzi Conspiracy
May 12, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBOn 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 cons...
Episode 120 - Rome: The Sistine Chapel before Michelangelo
May 05, 2021 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBDecades 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 Sisti...
Episode 119 - Florence: Uffizi Gallery - Botticelli's "Birth of Venus"
April 28, 2021 10:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBThe 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.
Episode 118 - Florence: Uffizi Gallery - Botticelli's "Primavera"
April 21, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBWhen 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.
Episode 117 - Answers to Open Questions VII
April 14, 2021 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25 MBFrom 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.
Episode 116 - Florence: Andrea del Verrocchio Part II
April 07, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBThis 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.
Episode 115 - Florence: Andrea del Verrocchio Part I
March 31, 2021 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBThis 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.
Episode 114 - Piero della Francesca’s Flagellation in Urbino
March 24, 2021 10:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBKenneth 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.
Episode 113 - Piero della Francesca's Paintings in San Sepolcro and Monterchi
March 17, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBThis 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.
Episode 112 - Arezzo: The Legend of the True Cross by Piero della Francesca
March 10, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBThis 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.
Episode 111 - Padua: Andrea Mantegna's frescoes in the Church of the Eremitani
March 03, 2021 11:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBThis 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.
Episode 110 - Padua: Donatello's "Gattamelata" and Statues in the Santo
February 24, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBThis 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.
Episode 109 - Florence: Equestrian Frescoes of John Hawkwood and Niccolò da Tolentino in Florence Cathedral
February 17, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBThis 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.
Episode 108 - Answers to Open Questions – Part VI
February 10, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MBFrom 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.
Episode 107 - Mantua: The Camera degli Sposi by Andrea Mantegna
February 03, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBThis 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.
Episode 106 - Mantua: Basilica of Sant'Andrea
January 27, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBThis 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.
Episode 105 - Florence: The Facade of Santa Maria Novella
January 20, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBThis 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.
Episode 104: Florence: The Basilica of Santo Spirito Part IV
January 13, 2021 11:00 - 31 minutes - 29.5 MBThis 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-wi...
Episode 103 - Florence: The Basilica of Santo Spirito - Part III
January 06, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MBThis 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 respons...
Episode 102 - Florence: The Basilica of Santo Spirito - Part II
December 30, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 29.9 MBThis 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.
Episode 101 - Florence: The Basilica of Santo Spirito
December 23, 2020 11:00 - 29 minutes - 28.5 MBThis 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.
Episode 100 - The Writing of "Brunelleschi's Basilica: The Building of Santo Spirito in Florence"
December 16, 2020 11:00 - 29 minutes - 28.1 MBJoin me in celebrating the 100th episode of my podcast by learning about all of the behind-the-scenes trials, tribulations, research, fortuitous moments, key figures, failures and triumphs that were part of the realization of my book, which was published in September 2020.
Episode 99 - Florence: Penitent Mary Magdalene by Donatello (Museo Dell'Opera del Duomo)
December 09, 2020 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18.6 MBThis episode examines one of the most moving and expressive sculptures in the history of art. Carved from white poplar wood, Donatello captures the meaning of ascetic spirituality by physically decimating his figure while still expressing an inner vitality in this extraordinarily modern-looking statue.
Episode 98: Florence - Uffizi Gallery Early Renaissance Paintings
December 02, 2020 11:00 - 29 minutes - 28.3 MBThis episode examines those works in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, that best express the principles of Early Renaissance style painting. From the rigid perspectival constructions of Paolo Uccello, to the sensually beautiful madonnas of Fra Lippo Lippi, to the iconic portraits of the duke and duchess of Urbino, we trace the evolution of painting from the Gothic to the Renaissance world.
Episode 97 - An Interview with Nirav Tolia - Part II
November 25, 2020 11:00 - 20 minutes - 19.8 MBThis episode is the second part of my two-part interview with visionary entrepreneur, Nirav Tolia, co-founder of the social media giant Nextdoor. We argue that those principles that drive innovation and creativity in Silicon Valley today are very much the same ones that drove the cultural revolution in Florence five centuries ago.
Episode 96 - An Interview with Nirav Tolia - Part I
November 18, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 15 MBThis episode is the first part of a two-part interview with visionary entrepreneur, Nirav Tolia, co-founder of the social media giant Nextdoor. We discuss Nirav's motivation for spending a year in Florence, Italy, teaching a course to Stanford University students about the similarities between the technological revolution of Silicon Valley and the cultural revolution of Renaissance Florence.
Episode 95 - Florence: Chapel of the Magi (Medici Palace)
November 11, 2020 11:00 - 23 minutes - 22.9 MBThis episode examines the splendid artistic decoration of one of Florence's best hidden gems - the Chapel of the Magi inside of the Medici Palace. Full a sumptuous materials and decorations, the walls of the chapel were beautifully painted by Benozzo Gozzoli in 1459 depicting the voyage of the Magi and filled with contemporary portraits of the Medici and their allies.
Episode 94 - Florence: The Medici Palace
November 04, 2020 11:00 - 30 minutes - 29.1 MBThis episode examines the history and architecture of the first Renaissance-style family palace in Florence, Italy. The Medici Palace was not only the home of the family, but also the seat of their political and financial power. Commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici, the palace was an integral part of the great man's "theory of magnificence."
Episode 93 - Florence: The Medici Dynasty
October 28, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MBThis episode examines the rise to power and legacy of one the longest-lasting dynasties in history. From relatively modest beginnings, the Medici family became one of the most wealthy and powerful families of Renaissance Italy, as well as great patrons of the arts.
Episode 92 - Florence: Last Supper by Andrea del Castagno (Sant'Apollonia)
October 21, 2020 10:30 - 27 minutes - 26.2 MBThis episode analyzes one of the best-preserved and influential Renaissance paintings of the Last Supper. Located in the former refectory of a nunnery in Florence, Italy, the painting exhibits various traditional elements typical of the subject, but it also displays numerous innovations.
Episode 91 - Florence: Convent of San Marco - Part II
October 14, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.9 MBThis episode explores the sublime painting decoration of the great Early Renaissance painter Fra Angelico in the convent of San Marco. From his utilitarian paintings in the cloister, to the majestic Crucifixion in the chapterhouse, to his celebrated Annunciation and finally to the mystical frescoes in the dormitory cells, San Marco is a veritable shrine to the creativity of this great artist.
Episode 90: Florence - The Convent of San Marco - Part I
October 07, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 32.6 MBThis episode is the first part of a two-part episode that examines the history and architecture of the first-ever Renaissance style convent. San Marco, which has been described as the most beautiful convent in all of Italy, was designed by Michelozzo and entirely funded by Cosimo De'Medici.
Episode 89: Answers To Open Questions - Part V
September 30, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 26.3 MBThis episode answers some of the questions asked directly by my listeners. From where the striping pattern on Tuscan churches comes from, to what kind of vegetal crown Donatello's bronze David wears, to the orientation of Michelangelo's New Sacristy, to angry looking figures in the Scrovegni Chapel, you can hear me answer your questions.
Episode 88 - Florence: Donatello's Bronze "David" Part II
September 23, 2020 10:00 - 24 minutes - 23.1 MBThis episode is the second part of my two-part episode about Donatello's eclectic statue of David. It examines the unusual iconography of the statue as well as the particular homoerotic culture of Renaissance Florence.
Episode 87 - Florence: Donatello's Bronze "David" Part I
September 16, 2020 10:00 - 18 minutes - 17.6 MBThis episode is the first of a two-part episode that examines one of the most beautiful and controversial sculptures in history. In this first part, we exam the history, museum context, and unusual iconography of the sculpture.
Episode 86: An Interview with Temple St. Clair - Part II
September 09, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.8 MBThis episode is the second part of my two-part interview with celebrated jewelry designer Temple St. Clair where we learn how the beauty and traditions of Florence, Italy help shape her brilliant creations.
Episode 85: An Interview with Temple St. Clair - Part I
September 02, 2020 10:00 - 19 minutes - 19.2 MBThis episode is the first of a two-part interview with world-renowned jewelry designer and good friend Temple St. Clair. Learn how the beauty, traditions and craftsmanship of Florence, Italy, played a major role in both the personal and professional life of this celebrated artist and entrepreneur.
Episode 84 - Florence: The Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti - Part II
August 26, 2020 10:00 - 28 minutes - 27.1 MBThis episode is the second part of the two-part episode dedicated to Lorenzo Ghiberti's celebrated doors known as the "Gates of Paradise". In this second part, we look at each individual panel to examine its style, composition and iconography, where we discover Ghiberti was indeed a master visual storyteller.
Episode 83: Florence - The Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti - Part I
August 19, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBThis episode examines the history and provenance of the world's most famous and beautiful doors - the so-called "Gates of Paradise" that were produced by Lorenzo Ghiberti between 1425-1452. Today, the Renaissance doors are one of the artistic gems of the Museo Dell'Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum) in Florence, Italy.
Episode 82 - Florence: The Cantorie by Luca Della Robbia and Donatello (Cathedral Museum)
August 12, 2020 10:00 - 23 minutes - 22.9 MBThis episode examines two of the largest and most beautiful works of Early Renaissance sculpture in Florence, Italy - the Cantorie, or "choir lofts" in the Museo Dell'Opera del Duomo. Designed and carved respectively by Luca Della Robbia and Donatello, each work is a visual celebration of song and music.
Episode 81 - Florence: Holy Trinity by Masaccio - Part II
August 05, 2020 10:00 - 33 minutes - 31.8 MBThis episode analyzes the mathematics involved in the creation of the first perspectival painting in history. Learn how geometry and algebra were not only part of the construction of the three-dimensional space, but also a surprising way to illustrate important theological doctrines.
Episode 80 - Florence: Holy Trinity by Masaccio
July 29, 2020 10:00 - 22 minutes - 22.1 MBThis episode will discuss what might just be the most important painting in Florence - Masaccio's Holy Trinity in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy. Learn how this fresco, which was the first in history to apply linear perspective, was lost in the 16th Century when the church was "Renaissanced" by Giorgio Vasari and then rediscovered in the 19h Century.
Episode 79 - Florence: Brunelleschi's Dome Part II
July 22, 2020 10:00 - 35 minutes - 33.3 MBThis is the second part of my two-part episode about Brunelleschi and the construction of the dome of Florence cathedral. Learn how the great architect out-smarted his competitors, won the contract for and then realized the world's largest dome in only 16 years. Then discover the secrets of how Brunelleschi was able to pull off such an extraordinary engineering feat!