The Measure of Man

Liberty, Virtue, and Beauty in the Florentine Renaissance

The Measure of Man
Lawrence Rothfield
RRP:
NZ$ 78.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 67.14
Hardback
h238 x 162mm - 216pg
17 May 2021 US
9781538143360
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
It was one of the most concentrated surges of creativity in the history of civilization. Between 1390 and 1537, Florence poured forth an astonishing stream of magnificent artworks. But Florentines did more during this brief period than create masterpieces. As citizens of a fractious republic threatened from below, without, and within, they also were driven to reimagine the political and ethical basis of their world, exploring the meaning and possibilities of liberty, virtue, and beauty. This vibrant era is brought to life in rich detail by noted historian Lawrence Rothfield in The Measure of Man. His highly readable account introduces readers to a city teeming with memorable individuals and audacious risk-takers, capable of producing works of the most serene beauty and acts of the most shocking violence. Rothfield' s cast of characters includes book hunters and book burners, devout Christians and assassins, humble pharmacists and arrogant oligarchs, all caught up in a dramatic struggle--a tragic arc running from the cultural heights of republican idealism in the early fifteenth century, through the aesthetic flowerings and civic vicissitudes of the age of the Medici and Savonarola, to the brooding meditations of Machiavelli and Michelangelo over the fate of the dying republic.
The Measure of Man is a riveting book that provides a detailed account of Florence' s decadent leaders, the intersection of politics and art at the time, and the Florentine "Renaissance spirit. "--Nathan' s Papers: Writing About Congressional History for All The Florentine Renaissance left a legacy of great works of art, but according to Rothfield that wasn' t all. As a self-governing republic, he writes, Florence would also shape "the civic stage on which the high drama of the Renaissance would unfold. " On that stage was a cast of characters that included politicians, priests, fanatics, and merchants, as well as painters, sculptors, writers, and their patrons. Machiavelli, Savonarola, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Donatello, Dante, and members of the Medici family including Cosimo and Lorenzo, are among those who make appearances in a sweeping story in which alliances are forged and broken and allegiances are pledged and tested. Rothfield traces the rise and fall of the city-state in a colorful and compelling history that brings Florence and its citizens and rulers to life. Numerous notes and a generous bibliography complete the presentation and offer opportunities for those wishing to delve deeper. Readers with an interest in Italy and cultural and political history will find much to discover and ponder in Rothfield' s portrait of a profoundly influential city. --Booklist A vibrant chronicle of the political and artistic ventures of Renaissance Florence, whose citizens attempted to stave off encroaching tyranny as humanists delved into ancient texts to forge a new culture and painters and sculptors created glorious artworks. As Rothfield persuasively argues, we still have much to learn from the ways political struggle and artistic experiment intertwined in the scintillating and tumultuous Quattrocento. --Rebecca Zorach, author of Art for People' s Sake The Measure of Man offers us the Florentine Renaissance as at once a political suspense thriller, a riveting intellectual adventure tale, a study in the character and complex motives of key Florentine personalities, and a lyrical reverie on the psychological and political meaning--as well as the tantalizing radiance and essential mystery--of the city' s astonishing works of art. In a remarkable achievement, Rothfield has combined all these riches into a brief, vivid, and unified story. Through his eyes, we see the Florentine Renaissance as most fundamentally a struggle over the nature and possibilities of liberty: a long tragic arc from the cultural pinnacle of republican idealism in the early fifteenth century, through the aesthetic flowering and civic vicissitudes of the age of the Medici and Savonarola, to the brooding meditations of Machiavelli and Michelangelo over the fate of the dying republic. --Ric Burns, documentary filmmaker Larry Rothfield is one of today' s great minds and finest writers. In this elegant volume, he turns his attention to examining the creative, ingenious, complex, and fascinating history of Florence, from nefarious assassinations to masterful paintings, from courtly intrigue to wondrous inventions. Florence may have been small, but like its mascot, David, it packed a powerful punch and made an indelible mark on the history books. --Noah Charney, professor of art history and best-selling author of Collector of Lives: Giorgio Vasari and the Invention of Art Democracy, freedom, civic participation, prosperity, and social vigor battle tyranny, foreign interference, suppression, disparities of wealth, and pandemics in the rise and fall of the republic. Though the themes strongly resonate today, the setting is Renaissance Florence. Lawrence Rothfield provides a highly readable account of the shaping of this most influential of cities, wonderfully blending the republic' s political and economic tensions with tales of artistic creativity and innovation, and adeptly using such characters as the Medicis, Machiavelli, and Michelangelo to do so. --Richard Kurin, Distinguished Scholar, Smithsonian Institution A warm and welcoming introduction to Florence and its history, perfect for students and for travelers who want to understand the stories hidden in the city' s layers and architecture, all written with true erudition and love. --Ada Palmer, author of Reading Lucretius in the Renaissance and the award-winning Terra Ignota series This is just the book I wanted but couldn' t find when I first became interested in Renaissance Florence. It' s a delightful read, full of fascinating color and detail. --Jo Walton, award-winning author of Among Others, The Just City, and Lent Want to feel the majesty and drama that made Florence the glory of Renaissance Italy? Rothfield' s propulsive, witty, erudite history of the city-state is a must. Here' s a guide to the genius, passions, politics, and noble and base motives of its creators, its rulers, and those who sought to favor them and usurp them. Rothfield helps us feel how the outsized impact of this remarkable city grew and ultimately faded, and why its power dimmed but its splendor endures. Readers may want to draw contemporary parallels to Renaissance Florence' s bravura cultural ambitions and political machinations--go right ahead--but this book' s real strength is making a magnificent place magnificently alive. --Ted C. Fishman, bestselling author of China, Inc. and Shock of Gray
Lawrence Rothfield is associate professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Chicago. He is the editor of Antiquities under Siege: Cultural Heritage Protection after the Iraq War (AltaMira 2008) and the author of The Rape of Mesopotamia: Behind the Looting of the Iraq Museum (University of Chicago Press, 2009). The latter book received strong media coverage and was widely and well-reviewed (the Atlantic praised it for its "jaw-dropping details"). He is currently working together with PBS film-maker Ric Burns on a treatment for a documentary on Renaissance Florence. Rothfield currently lives in Chicago.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9781538143360
Published: 17 May 2021
Published In: United States
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Format: Hardback
Height: 238mm
Width: 162mm
Spine: 19mm
Weight: 485g
Pages: 216

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information

Details of the product above will be automatically included with your enquiry.