The Three Ages of the Italian Renaissance

Richard Lectures

by Robert Sabatino Lopez

Mr. Lopez reinterprets the civilization of the High Renaissance in Italy as a dramatic succession of three Youth, 1454-1494; Maturity, 1494-1527; Decline, 1527-1559. In the first period, political and economic stabilization brings forth a mood of confident expectation which expresses itself in literature, art, and philosophy, all reaching for a goal of "self-centered aesthetic harmony." In the second period, a series of foreign invasions shatters the political and economic well-being of the Indian elite but does not slow down the artistic and literary drive. Whether in hope or in sorrow, in response to shock or in escape from reality, the Renaissance attains its glorious climax. The third period is torn between conflicting tendencies. The political battle is lost but there is a second economic revival; art and literature give out despondent notes but successfully explore new channels; philosophic permissiveness comes to an end but scientific reserach comes into its own. Mr. Lopez's tripartition of an age which is usually described as a single sweep adds depth to the definition of the Italian Renaissance. It is enhanced by his fresh translations of Renaissance poems and by twenty-four illustrations which pick out from the incomparable wealth of Renaissance art a few historically significant works. All the famous names are there, from Lorenzo de'Medici to Ariosto, Machiavelli, and Cardano, from Botticelli to Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Palladio; but one also meets a large number of minor figures and anonymous people in the street. America is discovered; new diseases appear; anti-Semitism reawakens; religious unity is destroyed - these and other events form the backdrop. The sparkling narration is thoroughly grounded in contemporary sources.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Italian born historian who emigrated to the United States in 1939. His work focused on issues of trade and commerce in the middle ages.

Reviews

[Eugene Kernes · Rating 2 out of 5]

A concise history of Italy during the Renaissance. Lopez splits the Renaissance into three periods which are Youth 1454-1494, Maturity 1494-1527, and Decline 1527-1559. Youth can be marked with an interest in intellectual pursuit and the arts via patrons. During Maturity, new ideas were abundant as they were brought through trade with the expanding economy. Decline was a period of exiling and war on heterogeneity. The book consists of very short explanations and examples which include economics, politics, social structure, art, and culture.

As there were many topics to cover in such a short book, each topic was given very little space. Moving quickly from topic to topic made it very difficult to understand the situation presented. As a survey of the Renaissance, the book can provides valuable ideas to look into to for greater understanding, but the book itself does not provide the depth necessary.

[Aygul A. Baghirova · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those enjoying this book, I recommend reading the article by

Eltjo Buringh, Bruce M.S. Campbell, Auke Rijpma, and Jan Luiten van Zanden, titled "Church Building and the Economy during Europe’s ‘Age of the Cathedrals’, 700–1500 CE," published in *Explorations in Economic History*, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), 2020.