Descrizione

Profusely illustrated, with a portrait of Savonarola engraved by C.H. Jeens as frontispiece, over fifty illustrations engraved on wood from drawings by Professor Delamotte. 8vo, in a handsome contemporary binding of three-quarter tan calf, over marbled paper covered boards, the spine gilt decorated, two compartments with red morocco labels lettered in gilt. xx, 436 pp. A very handsome and very well preserved copy, the calf clean and with very little evidence of aging, the text block clean and sound and very bright, hinges strong.

Edizione: this is a splendid little book which traces the history of florence in the time of its greatest makers. it is a pleasure to read, especially for students or those who love florence--offering the understanding of how the great city fought her special battles “sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind, wearing her soul out by factious struggles, yet at last making one great stand for life and freedom”. it is the story of dante, his public life and his exile; of the cathedral builders--arnolfo, giotto, ghiberti, donatello, brunelleschi and of the monks--the angelical painter, the good archbishop, savonarola and of the medicis--lorenzo the magnificent and michelangelo who so richly served the court and god. the illustrations add much to the fabric of the text and offer a pleasing aside to the words, allowing us images which transport us in time and space.