Renaissance

At what point did it begin to matter what you wore? Ulinka Rublack looks at why the Renaissance was a turning point in people’s attitudes to clothes and their appearance.

Lucy Wooding introduces a highly significant, but often much misunderstood, cultural force.

R.J. Knecht looks at the ­practical considerations behind the smooth operation of the huge courts of the Valois kings of France.

Vincent Barnett reveals that there is more to Machiavelli than his notorious reputation.

The beliefs of the man who painted some of the most famous Christian images are shrouded in mystery. Alex Keller coaxes Leonardo da Vinci’s thoughts out of some little-known personal writings.

The artist, scientist, botanist, anatomist, engineer, inventor and all-round genius Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) used paper in a unique way.

Richard Cavendish marks the demise of an important Renaissance figure, on March 20th, 1656.

Jon Cook identifies the mix of factors that helps explain the Florentine Renaissance.

Stewart MacDonald introduces the humanist scholar whose writings made him one of the most significant figures of 16th-century Europe.  

Valery Rees looks at the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino and finds a man whose work still speaks to us today.

Richard Mackenney reviews a book in the new Access to History: Themes series.