The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (1860) is a work of art
history by Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt. Recognized today as the
founder of modern art history and as one of the key thinkers of the
nineteenth century, Burckhardt changed not only the way we think about
the Renaissance in relation to European and world history, but the value
placed on art as a tool for understanding historical developments.
The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy begins with a section on
the historical events which sparked the Renaissance, focusing especially
on the frequent military conflicts which marred the era as well as on
the constant political upheavals undergone by such Italian regions and
cities as Rome, Venice, and Florence. Burckhardt then moves to a
philosophical discussion of the development of individuality in Italian
culture, arguing that the political circumstances of those living in the
Republics enabled such thinkers as Dante and Petrarch to create art that
corresponded with that newfound sense of individuality. The third
section discusses one of the key elements of Renaissance culture: the
revival of interest in the cultural products of the ancient world,
especially Greece and Rome. Part four focuses on the prominence of
discovery in Renaissance culture, for which Burckhardt looks to the
colonial expedition of Columbus, the growth of the natural sciences, and
the achievements of such poets and writers as Dante, Petrarch, and
Boccaccio in discovering new ways to describe humanity and the human
spirit. In the fifth section, the importance of societal customs and
festivals is discussed, and in the sixth and final part, Burckhardt
observes the profound shifts undergone by religion and morality in Italy
at the time.
The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy is a thorough, dynamic
work of art history that not only changed the study of history at
universities around the world, but elevated the status of art in
understanding the process of cultural change.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript,
this edition of Jacob Burckhardt's The Civilization of the Renaissance
in Italy is a classic of European art history reimagined for modern
readers.
