Art & War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries

Art & War in the Renaissance is a book that showcases the art of war during the Renaissance period in Europe. It includes distinctive arms and armor, as well as a tapestry series depicting the battle of Pavia. The book also features sixteenth-century fashions, essays, and color plates.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 12 March 2024
Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications

Art & War in the Renaissance, published on the occasion of a major traveling exhibition, presents a captivating collection of distinctive arms and armor within the rich context of an important tapestry series, highlighting the beauty of Renaissance European war culture. This significant contribution to art history and military display delves into the art of war, encompassing ceremonial armor, arquebuses, and swords, as well as the magnificent Flemish tapestries depicting the pivotal battle of Pavia in 1525. This pivotal battle, between King François I of France and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, is widely regarded as a significant turning point in modern European history.

As a vehicle for prestige and propaganda, the unprecedented suite of tapestries from the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte captures the life-size action of the battle of Pavia, meticulously designed by Bernard van Orley, the renowned Brussels artist who enjoyed fame throughout Renaissance Europe. The book showcases a remarkable array of sixteenth-century fashions, including fine armor, intricately detailed weapons, and haute couture costumes for men of war from the Armeria Farnese, one of Europe's most significant dynastic armories. Essays by esteemed scholars delve into the Neapolitan d'Avalos family archive, the extensive conservation efforts undertaken to restore the works, as well as their preparatory drawings, now housed at the Louvre. Extensive color plates and numerous lush details complement this notable volume, making it a must-have for enthusiasts of art, history, and military craftsmanship.

Dimension: 279 x 239 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780847899890