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 78: Florence - Brunelleschi's Dome Part I
July 15, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 26.1 MBThis episode examines the history leading up to the construction of Brunelleschi's great cupola. From the structural design of the tribunes, to the decision to add a drum, to the dilemma of wooden centering, what happened before Brunelleschi began building determined much of what he would need to do in order to build the world's largest dome.
Episode 77: Answers to Open Questions - Part IV
July 08, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 26.1 MBFrom Donatello's non-existent competition panel, to my favorite work of art by Michelangelo, to laser beams in art, this episode answers the very questions that you asked me about the great art of the Italian Renaissance.
Episode 76: Florence - Brancacci Chapel Part II
July 01, 2020 10:00 - 35 minutes - 33.1 MBThis episode is the second part of a two-part episode about the Brancacci Chapel in Florence, Italy. It examines the paintings inside of the Brancacci Chapel and discusses the authorship of each, and those attributes that made Masaccio one of the most revolutionary painters in history.
Episode 75: Florence: The Brancacci Chapel Part I
June 24, 2020 14:09 - 24 minutes - 23.4 MBThis episode explores the history and several key paintings of the revolutionary Brancacci Chapel in the church of Santa Maria Del Carmine in Florence, Italy. There is no better place in the world in which to illustrate the evolution of late Gothic to Early Renaissance than this chapel. It was here that the young genius named Masaccio introduced what today we define as Renaissance painting.
Episode 74 - An Interview with Ross King - Part II
June 17, 2020 10:00 - 23 minutes - 22.3 MBIn part 2 of my conversation with best-selling author Ross King, we discuss one of his later works entitled Leonardo and the Last Supper, as well as his upcoming publication The Bookseller of Florence, about famous Renaissance book merchant Vespasiano da Bisticci.
Episode 73: An Interview with Ross King - Part I
June 10, 2020 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBThis episode is the first of a two-part interview with best-selling author Ross King, author of Brunelleschi's Dome, Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling and other works addressing Renaissance subject matter.
Episode 72 - Florence: Brunelleschi and the Basilica of San Lorenzo
June 03, 2020 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.7 MBThis episode examines the construction history and architecture of the first Renaissance-style church ever built - the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy - which was designed by the great Filippo Brunelleschi. From modular systems, to the use of classical architectural vocabulary, to harmony and proportion, Brunelleschi made the old new again when he designed the church that ushered in the Renaissance of architecture.
Episode 71 - Florence: Brunelleschi's Old Sacristy
May 27, 2020 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29.7 MBThis episode examines the first Renaissance-style interior space ever built, which is known as the "Old Sacristy" in San Lorenzo in Florence. Designed by the great Filippo Brunelleschi, the revolutionary space also served as the funerary chapel of the patriarch of the Medici family - Giovanni Di Bicci.
Episode 70 - Theory - Classical Architectural Vocabulary
May 20, 2020 10:00 - 26 minutes - 25 MBThis episode examines the names and meanings of various Classical architectural structures and elements that were employed by Renaissance architects from Brunelleschi to Michelangelo.
Episode 69 - 360° With Dr. Peter Weller - Part II
May 13, 2020 10:00 - 21 minutes - 21.2 MBThis episode is the second part of my interview with celebrated Hollywood actor Dr. Peter Weller, where we discuss the subject of his doctorate, Italian food, and his acting career. Find out how the Renaissance man still finds time for acting and directing!
Episode 68 - 360° With Dr. Peter Weller - Part I
May 06, 2020 10:00 - 35 minutes - 33.6 MBThis episode is the first of a two-part interview with the famous actor Peter Weller, who has starred in over 70 films and television programs, but who also holds a doctorate in Renaissance art history. Find out how Robocop became a veritable Renaissance man.
Episode 67 - Florence: Brunelleschi and the Hospital of the Innocents
April 29, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutes - 24.8 MBThis episode examines the early part of Brunelleschi's career and his first major architectural project. His revival of a Classical architectural vocabulary and logic revolutionized architecture in the late medieval European world, and would establish this new style as the foundation for Italian architecture for centuries after.
Episode 66 - Florence: Donatello's Crucifix and Prophet Statues (S. Croce/Museo Del Opera)
April 22, 2020 10:00 - 26 minutes - 36.9 MBThis episode explores how Donatello revolutionized sculpture in the early 15th century by using three of his most famous works to illustrate his new visual language of naturalism.
Episode 65 - Venice: The Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge
April 15, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 30.9 MBThis episode explores the history and architecture of Venice's most important thoroughfare and its surrounding churches and palaces, as well as one of the world's most celebrated bridges - the Rialto - that has spanned the Grand Canal for nearly the last 1,000 years.
Episode 64 - Venice: Basilica of St. Mark and Doge's Palace
April 08, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBThis episode examines the history, architecture and importance of Italy's most unique church. An example of Italo-Byzantine architecture, St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, was built primarily to house the relics of the evangelist and to serve as the private chapel of the Doge. The result was a stunning and eclectic mix of styles and materials.
Episode 63: Answers to Open Questions - Part III
April 01, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBThis episode answers our third round of general questions. From dinner with historical personages, to my favorite restaurants and dishes in Italy, to saving Venice and its art, all the way down to how much "Leonardo" there is in the "Salvator Mundi" painting, hear me voice your questions and then provide you with answers.
Episode 62 - Florence: Donatello's St. George (Bargello)
March 25, 2020 10:00 - 28 minutes - 20.4 MBThis episode examines Donatello's sculptural representation of the St. George subject for the Sword and Armor Guild at the church of Orsanmichele, although both sculpture and niche are in the Bargello Museum today. Not only was this first sculpture of the Renaissance to depict a subject in a narrative context, it also largely inspired Michelangelo's David nearly a century later.
Episode 61: Florence - Donatello's Marble "David" (Bargello)
March 18, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBThis episode examines Donatello's seminal heroic interpretation of the "David" subject in sculpture. Removed from its original context at the Duomo and inserted into a civic setting at the Palazzo Vecchio, the statue became the symbol of divine protection for the Florentine Republic.
Episode 60: Florence - Cathedral Facade Sculptures
March 11, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 28.3 MBThis episode examines the statues that were produced by the likes of Arnolfo Di Cambio, Nanni Di Banco and Donatello and adorned the original facade of Florence cathedral. These extraordinary statues reflect the transition from the International Gothic to the Early Renaissance style.
Episode 59 - Venice: La Serenissma - The History of the Republic
March 04, 2020 11:00 - 35 minutes - 33.2 MBThis episode explores the history of the world's most unique city and the organization of the longest lasting republic of all time. From the original refugees who settled on the islands in the ancient world, to the theft of the body of St. Mark, to the formation of a "perfect government", to the evolution of the Venetian Scuola, we shall examine those key factors that transformed a bunch of marshy islands into La Serenissima.
Episode 58 - Florence: Uffizi Gallery: International Gothic Style Paintings
February 26, 2020 11:00 - 24 minutes - 23.5 MBThis episode explores the paintings in the Uffizi Gallery collection that best embody the principles of that style that marks the transition between the Gothic and Renaissance worlds, known as the "International Gothic Style." This style combines the elegance and elaborateness of Gothic art with the more naturalistic and spontaneous motifs of the Early Renaissance.
Episode 57: Florence - North Doors of Florence Baptistry
February 19, 2020 11:00 - 28 minutes - 40.2 MBThis episode examines the "North Doors" of Florence Baptistry that were produced by Lorenzo Ghiberti between 1403-1423 as a result of the famous competition of 1401 won by the same artist. The same International Gothic Style attributes that characterize Ghiberti's earlier competition panel, and which were the very reason that he won the competition, are prevalent throughout the 28 panels that make up these North Doors as well.
Episode 56: Florence - Competition Panels (Bargello)
February 12, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 44.7 MBThis episode examines the event that sparked the Renaissance - the famous competition between Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi in 1401 for the contract for a set of bronze doors of Florence Baptistry. These two Renaissance giants produced bronze relief panels depicting the Old Testament subject of the sacrifice of Isaac in radically different ways, and the result of the competition determined the professional path that each artist would follow.
Episode 55: Answers to Open Questions - Part II
February 05, 2020 11:00 - 28 minutes - 40.5 MBThis episode will answer many of the questions proposed by my listeners. From how the frescoes on the dome of Florence cathedral were executed, to how the artist Caravaggio died, to the Kenneth Clark vs. John Berger controversy - and much more - I respond directly to your very own questions.
Episode 54: Florence: Santa Maria Novella - Strozzi Chapel
January 29, 2020 11:00 - 27 minutes - 20.3 MBThis episode examines the beautiful pictorial decorations in the 14th-century Strozzi Chapel in Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy by the brothers Andrea (better known as "Orcagna") and Nardo di Cione. Almost perfectly preserved after eight centuries, the chapel also offers the extraordinary opportunity to see just exactly how these ecclesiastical spaces were used in their own day.
Episode 53: Saints and Symbols
January 22, 2020 11:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBThis episode examines the sometimes violent, often bizarre, and always fascinating representations of saints and martyrs in Italian medieval and Renaissance art. From St. Sebastian's arrows to St. Lucy's eyeballs to St. Lawrence's barbecue grill, we shall discuss saint imagery and its symbolism.
Episode 52 - Siena: Cathedral Pulpit by Nicola Pisano
January 15, 2020 11:00 - 25 minutes - 18.7 MBThis episode examines Nicola Pisano's great sculptural pulpit in the cathedral in Siena, Italy. Carved five years after his pulpit in Pisa Baptistry, this work is much more Gothic in style, reflecting its highly decorative architectural surroundings. Yet, Pisano's work is still full of innovation and invention as he strived to modernize medieval sculpture by introducing drama, movement, naturalism and emotion.
Episode 51: Florence - Uffizi Gallery - Medieval Paintings
January 08, 2020 11:00 - 28 minutes - 20.6 MBThis episode examines the medieval paintings in the extraordinary collection of paintings in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Works by Giotto, Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti exemplify the move towards naturalism in this proto-Renaissance moment.
Episode 50 - 50th Episode Celebration!
December 31, 2019 18:20 - 32 minutes - 23.1 MBThis milestone episode celebrates the production of my 50th episode by telling you more about who I am, what I do, why I do it and I how I got there from both a personal and professional perspective.
Episode 49 - A Renaissance Christmas
December 25, 2019 11:00 - 26 minutes - 19 MBThis holiday episode explores the history and traditions of the world's most popular holiday - Christmas! From St. Nick to Jesus' infancy to candy canes, we discuss how both pagan and Christian traditions magically coalesced into the holiday that we celebrate today.
Episode 48: Florence - San Miniato al Monte
December 18, 2019 11:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBThis episode explores the history and examines the architecture of one of the most unique churches of medieval Europe. Consecrated in 1018 CE, the thousand-year-old Romanesque church of San Miniato in Florence, Italy houses an eclectic mix of artistic styles inside of a distinctly mysterious and mystical atmosphere.
Episode 47: Pisa - Baptistry Pulpit by Nicola Pisano
December 11, 2019 11:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBThis episode examines one of the most extraordinary sculptures of the Middle Ages. Nicola Pisano revolutionized sculpture in the 13th century by introducing drama, psychology, classical motifs, anatomy and movement. Although few works exist by the great sculptor, he would inspire later masters such as Donatello and Michelangelo.
Episode 46: Pisa - The Leaning Tower of Pisa
December 04, 2019 11:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBThis episode explores the great Romanesque architectural monuments of the Tuscan city of Pisa. From its majestic marble cathedral, to its elegant circular baptistry, to what I like to call the greatest architectural disaster since Babylon – the leaning tower, Pisa is home to some of the greatest architecture of the Middle Ages.
Episode 45: Florence - The Baptistry Part II - Mosaics
November 27, 2019 11:00 - 28 minutes - 20.6 MBThis episode will examine the breathtaking mosaics that decorate the ceiling of Florence Baptistry. Epic in scale and subject matter, and excruciatingly meticulous in execution, the mosaics represent one of the greatest works of art of medieval Europe and may have inspired both Dante and Michelangelo.
Episode 44: Florence - The Baptistry - Part I
November 20, 2019 11:00 - 20 minutes - 15.4 MBThis episode explores the history and architecture of what is, in local tradition, the most important monument in Florence, Italy. Nearly a millennium old, the Romanesque building has always been the heart of Florentine society and tradition.
Episode 43: Answers To Open Questions - Part I
November 13, 2019 11:00 - 24 minutes - 34.2 MBThis episode will answer the questions posed by various listeners on our social media platforms. From what sparked my own interest in the Renaissance, to whether Giotto or Michelangelo was more influential in shaping Renaissance art, all the way to Michelangelo's sexuality, no question is left unanswered.
Episode 42: Theory - Bronze Sculpture
November 06, 2019 11:00 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBThis episode will examine the technique of bronze sculpture. From the making of the initial model, to the casting of the bronze, all the way down to the signature patination of the sculpture by the artist, discover just went into the production of the metal masterpieces.
Episode 41 - Theory: Marble Sculpture
October 30, 2019 10:00 - 20 minutes - 29.7 MBThis episode examines the sculptural medium of marble and how artists worked the stone. From the quarries of Carrara to the various tools used by the sculptor, we discover just what goes into producing a sculptural masterpiece in marble.
Episode 40 – Florence: Statues at Orsanmichele
October 23, 2019 10:00 - 37 minutes - 52.7 MBThis episode examines the extraordinary collection of statues on the outside of the church of Orsanmichele in Florence, Italy. Produced by some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, such as Donatello, Ghiberti and Verrocchio, each statue reflects the changing artistic styles of the day as well as the socio–economic importance of their guild patrons.
Episode 39 – Florence: Orsanmichele
October 16, 2019 10:00 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBThis episode recounts the history behind the medieval–grain–market–turned–church of Orsanmichele in Florence, Italy. The building has always reflected the bustling commercial character of the city, first as a marketplace for grain and then as its official guild church.
Episode 38 – Florence: Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari Corridor
October 09, 2019 10:00 - 24 minutes - 34.7 MBThis episode explores the history and evolution of one of the world's most famous bridges – the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. From ancient Roman times through to today, the bridge has served as a means of passage between the banks of the Arno river, as well a thriving commercial centre for various types of professions.
Episode 37 - Florence: Santa Maria Novella - The Spanish Chapel - Part II
October 02, 2019 10:00 - 32 minutes - 44.8 MBThis episode examines the beautiful fresco decoration inside of the Spanish Chapel in the convent of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy. These paintings are not only prime examples of art produced in the wake of the Black Death, but they also testify to how the Dominicans effectively used art as a didactic instrument.
Episode 36: Florence: Santa Maria Novella - The Spanish Chapel - Part I
September 25, 2019 10:00 - 24 minutes - 23.4 MBThis episode examines the history and patronage of one of the great medieval churches of Florence: Santa Maria Novella. The seat of the Dominican Order in Florence, the rather severe style of the art in this church reflects the orthodox philosophy of this particular religious order. Perhaps the most spectacular of the decorative spaces in this church is its chapter house, known as the Spanish Chapel.
Episode 35: San Gimignano: Black Death Paintings in the Collegiata
September 18, 2019 10:00 - 34 minutes - 32.3 MBThis episode examines one of the most sinister and violent fresco cycles of the Middle Ages in the cathedral or "Collegiata" of the Tuscan town of San Gimignano. Attributed to a mysterious artist named Barna Da Siena, the frescoes are often used as an example of a "post-Black Death style" of painting.
Episode 34: European History: The Black Death Part II
September 11, 2019 10:00 - 19 minutes - 19 MBThis episode examines the consequences of the Black Death on medieval European society. From religion, to economics, to art, the Black Death would forever change Europe and in many ways prepare the way for the coming of the Renaissance.
Episode 33: European History: The Black Death Part I
September 04, 2019 10:00 - 27 minutes - 26.2 MBThis episode addresses one of the greatest natural calamities in human history - the Black Death. This "mother of all plagues" wiped out 1/3 of Europe's population over just a couple of years and left an indelible mark upon western society.
Episode 32: Padua - The Scrovegni Chapel Part 4: The Passion of Jesus Christ
August 28, 2019 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29.7 MBThis episode is the fourth and final episode addressing the extraordinary frescoes by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy. The paintings in this episode represent the climax of the visual narrative and depict the story of the passion of Jesus Christ.
Episode 31: Padua - The Scrovegni Chapel Part 3: The Life and Mission of Jesus Christ
August 21, 2019 10:00 - 31 minutes - 29.8 MBThis episode examines the extraordinary visual representations of the "Life of Jesus Christ" created by the visionary painter Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy in the early 14th century.
Episode 30: Padua - The Scrovegni Chapel Part 2: The Last Judgement and the Life of the Virgin Mary
August 14, 2019 10:30 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBThis episode will examine two of the extraordinary themes depicted in Giotto's paintings in the Scrovegni Chapel: the surprisingly optimistic Last Judgement, and the startlingly cinematic Life of the Virgin Mary.
Episode 29: Padua - The Scrovegni Chapel Part 1: History
August 07, 2019 10:30 - 27 minutes - 26.7 MBThis episode will address the history of the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy from its construction, to its patronage, to its decoration by the great painter Giotto. We will also discuss the modern system of conservation employed at the chapel in order to conserve the recently-restored frescoes.