Frederick Hartt's unrivaled classic is a dazzling journey through four centuries of Italian Renaissance painting, sculpture, and architecture. Its sumptuous color illustrations, fine writing, and in-depth scholarship bring into focus all the elements of this extraordinarily creative period and the remarkable personalities who gave it life. Highlights of this Fifth Edition include: * a striking new design with more than half the artworks illustrated in full color * new views of frescoes and sculptures photographed in their original locations that offer a dynamic insight into the way the art was originally experienced * fresh views of great works of art that have been restored since the last edition * extended captions that identify Renaissance patrons and provide details about historical context, emphasizing how the art was created and why