The Franciscans and Art Patronage in Late Medieval Italy - Softcover

Reviews of the hardback: '... no one interested in the art of this period, or in patronage in all periods, can afford to ignore this fine and important book.' John Richards, Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History

'In a significant way Bourdua redresses a balance which has for too long been over-weighted by Assisi, and reveals the Franciscan order's pervasive and enduring effect on architecture, painting and sculpture in north-eastern Italy.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History

'This pioneering study addresses a burgeoning area of art-historical enquiry with some extremely profitable results.' Burlington Magazine

In this book, Louise Bourdua examines how Franciscan church decoration developed between 1250 and 1400. Focusing on three important churches - San Fermo Maggiore, Verona, San Lorenzo, Vicenza and Sant'Antonio, Padua - she argues that local Franciscan friars were more interested in their own conception of how artistic programs should work than merely following models for decoration issued from the mother church at Assisi. In addition, lay patrons also had considerable input into the decoration programs. These case studies serve as a multiform model of patronage, which is tested against other commissions of the Trecento.