Wealth and the Demand for Art in Italy, 1300-1600

by Richard A. Goldthwaite

Wealth and the Demand for Art in Italy represents a departure from previous studies, both in its focus on demand and in its emphasis on the history of the material culture of the West. By demonstrating that the roots of modern consumer society can be found in Renaissance Italy, Richard Goldthwaite offers a significant contribution to the growing body of literature on the history of modern consumerism—a movement which he regards as a positive force for the formation of new attitudes about things that is a defining characteristic of modern culture.

Genres: Art, History, Art History, Renaissance, Medieval History

Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

Reviews

[Matthew Melmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about Italy that makes everything charming and delightful, including a discussion on capital flows, investment, and the Renaissance version of Pimp My Crib. It reads a bit like playing a city builder or civilization game. That doesn't do people who aren't into city builders or civilization games any good, but for those who are it's a comprehensive look into the knobs and dials involved. For people interested in creating socio-economic games (or roleplaying worlds), much like History of Venice, this book is a goldmine.

[Amy Laverick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read and some excellent background into the different ways of spending between Italy and the North, and their attitudes towards money, trade and their personal surroundings.
Excellent background reading for studying renaissance Italy.

[Eric Pecile · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent short survey of wealthy Italian art consumption. Overall, the book does execute its objective: to demonstrate how Italian patricians had unique spending habits when it came to art. Goldthwaite examines the cultural, political and social dimensions structuring the demand in great detail. Where the work falls short is in its evenness. Most of the work is dedicated to evaluating the demand shaping factors rather than demonstrating their effects by referring to purchases. As a result, one is not wholly convinced by the end of the work. Also, there is a distinct norther Italian sample bias. Italy in this context is a rather limited geographic space, further weakening the argument. Still a worthwhile read despite the minor flaws in execution.

[Fred Arcuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in college in a renaissance history class. I still consider it the most important book about art history I've ever read. It's slow and a bit dry, but is a real eye opener. I recommend it to anyone that wants to learn more about the renaissance and about art history in general.