Spanning more than three centuries, this beautiful and authoritative work brings to life the rich tapestry of Italian Renaissance society and the art works that are its enduring legacy. Fresh and broad in approach, this is the only serious book on the subject to integrate both social and art history for the whole of Italy -- not just Florence, Siena, and Rome.Art lovers and history students alike will welcome this new edition of a highly regarded work previously issued for the academic market. The art is gorgeous and the contextual discussions -- of Renaissance artists in their world and of Renaissance art in Western art history -- are unmatched.