Ercole d'Este (1471-1505) is perhaps best known as the father of Isabella d'Este, marchioness of Mantua, but his court in Ferrara was one of the most glittering in Renaissance Italy. He was an extremely prolific builder and laid out plans which doubled the size of the city. He was also the leader in the revival of classical theatre, an enthusiastic patron of musicians, and a creator of magnificent court spectacles. Very little survives to testify to Ercole's achievements, largely on account of a devastating earthquake in 1570, but considerable archival evidence has been used to re-establish the duke's achievements and the extent to which he was personally involved in his patronage. This evidence runs contrary to many currently held assumptions, and although Herculean Ferrara deals with one court and one ruler it also challenges some of the basic notions about the relationship between artist and patron during the Renaissance.

An illustrated account of the life and work of a leading patron of the Italian Renaissance.
Reviews
' ... imaginative, sensibly organised and well presented.' The Court Historian



Book Information
ISBN 9780521522632
Author Thomas Tuohy
Format Paperback
Page Count 568
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 1000g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 194mm * 30mm