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The Italian Renaissance Podcast

Lawrence Gianangeli

81 episodes

The Italian Renaissance Podcast takes you on an exciting journey into fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy, stepping beyond the bounds of general overviews of historical themes of the Renaissance, and diving deeply into interpreting how we understand the period today. Each episode provides an analysis of cultural giants, stories of drama and violence, masterworks of literature, but most importantly, the art. These discussions are curated for not only the adept history lover, but also the general audience, as an engaging and digestible source of information for those interested in enhancing their own understanding of Western history. Follow us on Instagram for images and updates: @italian_renaissance_podcast

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. The Marchesa: Author Sarah Dunant on Writing Isabella d'Este

    · 34 min · S6 E81

    Author and historian Sarah Dunant joined me for a riveting conversation about her new book treating the life of Isabella d'Este, The Marchesa. A master of the historical fiction genre, Sarah walks us through her…

  2. Ep. 80: Il Sodoma's Scenes of Alexander the Great

    · 28 min · S6 E80

    Among the many artists employed by Agostino Chigi, Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, better known as Il Sodoma, painted a remarkable fresco cycle of Alexander the Great in Rome's Villa Farnesina. At the center of the discussion…

  3. Ep. 79: Raphael and the Villa Farnesina

    · 26 min · S6 E79

    At the height of his career in Rome, Raphael was commissioned by the wealthy banker Agostino Chigi to join a large workforce of artists decorating his villa on the outskirts of central Rome, known today as the Villa…

  4. Ep. 78: Raphael's Stanza della Segnatura

    · 31 min · S6 E78

    In this episode, we explore Raphael’s extraordinary decoration of the Vatican’s Stanza della Segnatura, one of the defining achievements of the High Renaissance. At the center is the famous School of Athens, but the…

  5. Ep. 77: Michelangelo's Last Judgement

    · 28 min · S6 E77

    In 1534, Michelangelo was called back to Rome to complete his final work inside the Sistine Chapel for the altar wall, his Last Judgement. In the decades between his painting of the ceiling and his return, Rome was…

  6. Ep. 76: Michelangelo and the Sistine Ceiling

    · 27 min · S6 E76

    Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the defining masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, but its creation was equally defined by friction as much as genius. This episode follows Michelangelo's turbulent…

  7. Ep. 75: Pope Sixtus IV and the Sistine Chapel

    · 27 min · S6 E75

    Before the era of the High Renaissance, Pope Sixtus IV commissioned one of the most ambitious artistic projects of the Roman Quattrocento, the Sistine Chapel. In this episode, we explore the chapel's original…

  8. Ep. 74: Renaissance Rome - The Bessarion Chapel

    · 28 min · S6 E74

    Before the triumphs of Michelangelo and Raphael transformed Rome during the High Renaissance, the foundations of the Roman Humanism were laid by remarkable scholars, patrons, and artists whose stories are often…

  9. Ep. 73: Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael in Florence

    · 27 min · S5 E73

    Raphael’s years in Florence (c. 1504–1508) placed him at the center of one of the most extraordinary moments in Renaissance art, where he encountered both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo at the height of their…

  10. Ep. 72: The Book of the Courtier

    · 26 min · S5 E72

    This episode explores the courtly culture of Renaissance Urbino through Baldassare Castiglione’s landmark Book of the Courtier (1528), one of the most influential literary works of the Renaissance. After considering…

  11. Ep. 71: Federico da Montefeltro and Urbino feat. Prof. Linda Reynolds

    · 36 min · S5 E71

    Art Historian Linda Reynolds joins me to discuss the history of the court of Duke Federico da Montefeltro. Ruling over Urbino, the Montefeltro court was among the most important centers in Renaissance Italy. Professor…

  12. Ep. 70: Perugino and Raphael - The Marriage of the Virgin

    · 22 min · S5 E70

    This episode examines how artistic influence and innovation intersect in the work of Perugino and Raphael, using their two Marriage of the Virgin paintings as a lens. It explores the defining qualities of Perugino’s…

  13. Ep. 69: Perugia and Perugino

    · 27 min · S5 E69 · Explicit

    This episode explores how Perugia functioned as a dynamic center of Renaissance art and how Perugino emerged as its most influential painter. It considers the city’s political, religious, and economic structures as…

  14. Michelangelo Reimagined: Justin Garascia on his New Play: Mikey!

    · 20 min · S5 E68 · Explicit

    Michelangelo takes to the stage, and playwright and actor Justin Garascia joins us to discuss his dynamic reimagining of the early life of Michelangelo. Set in Renaissance Italy, MIKEY! unfolds as a gothic, queer fever…

  15. Ep. 67: The Sforza Altarpiece

    · 26 min · S5 E67 · Explicit

    The Sforza Altarpiece (Pala Sforzesca) is among the single most important works of art commissioned by Ludovico il Moro. Through this painting, we can trace both the heavy religious history of Milan and the dynastic…

  16. Ep. 66: Leonardo da Vinci in the Sforza Court

    · 33 min · S5 E66

    There is no better way to explore the art and politics of the Sforza court in Milan than through the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo spent most of his early career employed by Ludovico il Moro, the regent and…

  17. Ep. 65: Isabella d'Este feat. Eleanor Walker

    · 28 min · S5 E65

    Art Historian Eleanor Walker joins us this episode to discuss the life and patronage of Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua. Isabella perfectly bridges the northern courts of Este Ferrara and Gonzaga Mantua, serving…

  18. Ep. 64: The Camera Picta - Andrea Mantegna in the Gonzaga Court

    · 28 min · S5 E64

    This episode looks at how the Gonzaga family of Mantua shaped their political image through art patronage. Ludovico Gonzaga, eager to raise his court’s prestige, brought the painter Andrea Mantegna to Mantua in 1460.…

  19. Ep. 63: Cintho's Desdemona, feat. Michael Curtotti

    · 46 min · S5 E63

    Join me and writer/translator Michael Curtotti on a discussion about the literary patronage of the Este court. Centered around Micheal's new translation of the playwright and novella author Cinzio, our discuss dives…

  20. Ep. 62: Este Ferrara - Borso, Ercole, & Alfonso I

    · 26 min · S5 E62

    We continue our journey through the Este court of Ferrara, moving from Borso’s decoration of the Palazzo Schifanoia to the ambitious reign of Ercole I. We explore his transformation of Ferrara with the Addizione…

  21. Ep. 61: Este Ferrara - Niccolò III, Leonello, and Borso

    · 25 min · S5 E61

    In this episode, we explore the rise of the Este family and the transformation of Ferrara into a vibrant Renaissance court. From Niccolò III’s political maneuvering to Leonello’s humanist vision and groundbreaking…

  22. Ep. 60: Giuliano da Sangallo

    · 26 min · S5 E60

    The Court of Lorenzo the Magnificent Part 6 of 6: Architecture This episode looks at the most significant works of Lorenzo's court architect and dear friend, Giuliano da Sangallo. Among his most important designs,…

  23. Ep. 59: The Pollaiuolo Brothers

    · 25 min · S5 E59

    The Court of Lorenzo the Magnificent Part 5: Antonio and Piero Pollaiuolo Among the many artists who earned the attention of the Magnificent, the Pollaiuolo brothers left behind an artistic legacy closely tied with…

  24. Ep 58: Angelo Poliziano

    · 31 min · S5 E58

    The Court of Lorenzo the Magnificent Part 4: Angelo Poliziano Born Agnolo Ambrogini in Montepulciano in 1454, Poliziano rose to intellectual supremacy in Laurentian Florence as the premier Humanist and poet of the…

  25. Ep. 57: The Birth of Venus and the Court of Pan

    · 25 min · S5 E57

    The Court of Lorenzo de' Medici Part 3: Large-Scale Mythological Painting The 1480's in Florence was an age of relative prosperity under Lorenzo the Magnificent. During this period, the visual arts began to take a new…

  26. Ep. 56: Lucrezia Tornabuoni de' Medici

    · 25 min · S5 E56

    The Court of Lorenzo de' Medici Part 2: Lucrezia Tornabuoni Lucrezia Tornabuoni (1427-1482) was one of the key figures in both the political and cultural influence of the Medici family during the late 15th century.…

  27. Ep. 55: Lorenzo the Magnificent

    · 30 min · S5 E55

    The Court of Lorenzo de' Medici Part 1: Lorenzo the Magnificent To engage Lorenzo de' Medici's court in Florence, there is no better topic to introduce the subject than the man himself. This episode takes a glance at…

  28. Ep. 54: Rome Reborn - Pope Nicholas V

    · 33 min · S4 E54

    Rome was a neglected swamp when Pope Nicholas V came to power. An extremely well educated humanist, Medici ally, and frequenter of the classicist circles in Florence and Bologna, Nicholas was elected pope in 1447,…

  29. Ep. 53: Fra Filippo Lippi

    · 26 min · S4 E53

    Lustful, unpredictable, and mischievous, Fra Filippo Lippi is a notorious figure of the Italian Renaissance. This episode surveys his life, looking primarily at three artworks: the San Lorenzo Annunciation, the Double…

  30. Ep 52: San Marco, Florence - Fra Angelico, Michelozzo, and Cosimo de' Medici

    · 28 min · S4 E52

    San Marco, Florence: Nowhere else does the entirety of Renaissance social history converge in such a dynamic way. Upon returning from exile in 1434, Cosimo de' Medici found himself laden with guilt over the means in…

  31. Ep. 51: Renaissance Modernity - Michelozzo, Jacopo della Quercia, and Domenico Veneziano

    · 29 min · S4 E51

    What does it look like across three mediums when a new style harmonizes, and the conventions of the Middle Ages take a new form? Looking at three diverse artists and three different patrons, as well as an example of…

  32. Ep. 50: Donatello

    · 34 min · S4 E50

    In this monumental 50th episode, join me in discussing a likewise monumental artist of the early Renaissance: Donatello. This episode examines the landmark works of the Florentine sculptor, taking a close look at his…

  33. Ep. 49: Masaccio

    · 26 min · S4 E49

    Undoubtedly one of the most important painters of the Florentine Renaissance, Masaccio broke the barriers of convention, producing the first monumental works in the Renaissance style. This episode discusses Masaccio's…

  34. Ep. 48: Gothic Painting - Lorenzo Monaco and Gentile da Fabriano

    · 26 min · S4 E48

    The early 1400's in Italy saw the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance style in painting. In major areas of patronage, be it for churches or wealthy patrons, a new style flourished that was representative of…

  35. Ep. 47: Plague and War in the Early Renaissance

    · 28 min · S4 E47

    While the idea of an entirely joyous rise of Renaissance culture might sound apt for a period known for mesmerizing art and literature, history tells a different story, one of war, of plague, and of death. This episode…

  36. Ep. 46: Intro to the Early Renaissance - Art, Literature, and the Black Death

    · 25 min · S4 E46

    It is time to open the next chapter of our dive into Renaissance history, dialing back to look at the early Renaissance and the Proto-Renaissance. The terminology of periodization is loose and malleable, and brings to…

  37. Ep. 45: Dr. Alan Pascuzzi, Bronze Casting and "Becoming Michelangelo."

    · 47 min · S3 E45

    I am joined by the Florence based artist and art historian Dr. Alan Pascuzzi for a thrilling interview about his career as an artist following the techniques of the Renaissance masters. We first discuss the process of…

  38. Ep. 44: Frank Nero Part 2: San Martino del Vescovo

    · 45 min · S3 E44

    Join me in conversation with Frank Nero, who takes us on a journey to a hidden gem in Florence, San Martino del Vescovo. This oratory serves as a fascinating case study of the intersections between Medici power and art…

  39. Ep.43: Frank Nero Part 1: Teaching Renaissance Art in Florence, Italy

    · 45 min · S3 E43

    It is with great pleasure that I welcome Frank Nero to the podcast. Nero is an art historian, award-winning educator, and former director of Florida State University Florence. He specializes in on-site lectures, having…

  40. Ep. 42: The Followers of Raphael Part 2: Giovanni da Udine, feat. Esme Garlake

    · 32 min · S3 E42

    Join me in the continuation of my conversation with ecocritical art historian and climate activist Esme Garlake. In the second part of our interview, we discuss the works of Raphael's pupil, Giovanni da Udine. Giovanni…

  41. Ep. 41: The Followers of Raphael Part 1: Ecocritical Art History and Giulio Romano, feat. Esme Garlake

    · 32 min · S3 E41

    Join me in conversation in two parts with Esme Garlake, an ecocritical art historian and climate activist who centers her research on the interaction between the artist and the natural world. We are talking about two…

  42. Ep. 40: Romeo and Juliet: The Italian Renaissance Novella that Inspired Shakespeare, feat. Michael Curtotti

    · 46 min · S3 E40

    Welcome to the Italian Renaissance Podcast Interview Series! Passionate translator Michael Curtotti joins us on the podcast to discuss the Renaissance novelliere Matteo Bandello and his Romeo and Juliet, which serves…

  43. Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper

    · 24 min · Episode 39

    Leonardo da Vinci arrived in Milan around the year 1482. Under the patronage of Duke Ludovico Gonzaga, Leonardo painted his famous Last Supper on the wall of the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Still, his…

  44. Ep.38: Veronese and the Inquisition

    · 23 min · S2 E38

    Season 2 Finale! For the conclusion of this treatment of Renaissance Venice, we discuss Paolo Veronese and his famous painting that enraged the Holy Inquisition: The Supper in the House of Levi. Indeed, upon completion…

  45. Ep. 37: Renovatio Urbis - Jacopo Sansovino and Pietro Aretino

    · 25 min · S2 E37

    Touted as the 'triumvirate' of sixteenth century Venice, Titian, Jacopo Sansovino, and Pietro Aretino were cultural megaliths that bolstered the ambitious city development plan under Doge Andrea Gritti. This episode…

  46. Ep. 36: Gaspara Stampa - Venetian Renaissance Poet

    · 27 min · S2 E36

    Gaspara Stampa is among the most important poets of the Renaissance. Living in Venice, she was a central figure in the music and literary scene thriving during the sixteenth century. Her Rime, published the year of her…

  47. Ep. 35: Michelangelo in Venice

    · 27 min · S2 E35

    In 1494 upon the expulsion of the Medici from Florence, Michelangelo Buonarotti left his native city for the Republic of Venice. His stay there was brief and mostly undocumented. Yet, close comparison of source…

  48. Ep. 34: The Titian List, feat. Gee Cooper

    · 53 min · S2 E34

    With great pleasure, I welcome Gee Cooper back to the show to discuss the afterlife of Titian. Given his proliferation and international appeal, the works of Titian and his role as court painter had a ripple effect in…

  49. Ep. 33: Titian: A Life in Three Paintings

    · 26 min · S2 E33

    Known as the greatest master of the Venetian Renaissance, Titian's painting career spanned most of the sixteenth century. This episode aims to give an overview of his life and works, focusing on three paintings from…

  50. Ep. 32: Mehmed II and Italian Art in the Ottoman Courts

    · 26 min · S2 E32

    The conquest of Constantinople placed the Ottoman Empire at the center of the Mediterranean world. Sultan Mehmed II thrived under the cultural pluralism of his new court, procuring artists from both sides of his world:…

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