The Roman Crucible: The Artistic Patronage of the Papacy 1198 - 1304 (Romische Forschungen Der Bibliotheca Hertziana)

"This book gathers 13th century art commissioned by Roman popes and cardinals and provides a remarkable insight into the sociology of late medieval artistic practice. It traces how the church's governing body, the Roman Curia, imported art works from Europe to the Latium region and illustrates their enormous impact on Roman culture. Julian Gardner (Warwick University) has been a Research Professor with the Max Planck Society working at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome. He meticulously examines the patronage of the papacy and demonstrates how Rome and the neighbouring papal summer residences of Anagni, Orvieto and Viterbo were a melting pot for various artistic styles and techniques. In this way Rome became the most advanced and innovative artistic centre in Europe. This publication also scrutinises the complex relationships between artists and patrons, with detailed accounts of their stylistic and iconographic peculiarities."--