Books about Florentine from Amazon.com

"This translation . . . of Machiavelli's thoughts on his native city is meant to be less colloquial and closer to the original than the typical translation. This highlights how Machiavelli used words (and thought) differently from us. . . . Machiavelli is too often remembered merely as the realist who took the morality out of `virtue.' As the Histories demonstrate, he was also a gifted writer and historian."--Virginia Quarterly Review "Banfield and Mansfield's new rendition of the Renaissance humanist's study of Florentine history aims to supply contemporary readers with a literal, exact, and readable version of the original. . . . Machiavelli's concept of history and his purpose in charting the story of Florence and its leading families are thoroughly examined before the translators lead their readers into the substance of the social philosopher's arguments and into a work of literature that once again comes alive."--Booklist.
Price: $27.20 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This remarkable book is the first to examine all the art and architecture commissioned by Florence's leading patron of the fifteenth century, Cosimo de' Medici. These spectacular commissions, when viewed together, provide an entirely new picture of Cosimo, his point of view, his motivations and intentions as a patron, and the themes that permeate his oeuvre. "Kent's splendid book is a stunningly innovative treatment of the patronage of art by Cosimo de' Medici. She sets a new standard for studies of the Medici and indeed all cultural phenomena in Florence."-Brenda Preyer.
Price: $26.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

History is sometimes made by seemingly insignificant moments that turn out to have been pivotal in hindsight--and sometimes what didn't happen proves to be as important as what did. One such moment came in the Florentine court of Cesare Borgia, when a civil servant named Niccolò Machiavelli recruited a local engineer named Leonardo da Vinci to devise a plan to change the course of the Arno River. Diverting that river, Machiavelli reasoned, would deprive Florence's enemy, the nearby city-state of Pisa, of a dependable water supply. It would also make the Arno River navigable for oceangoing vessels from the inland city of Florence, and as an added incentive, would help limit damage caused by the flood-prone Arno to the surrounding farmlands.

Machiavelli and da Vinci devised a hydrological plan for the river that was extraordinarily promising, at least on paper. The flood-prone Arno, however, made the task an impossible challenge. The pair's chances of success were further reduced by poor design, bad timing, and undisciplined workers. Their failure brought official disfavor on Machiavelli and da Vinci alike. Leonardo transferred his studio to Milan and then Rome, where he would produce remarkable work, while Machiavelli retreated from public life for a time and used his forced leisure to write The Prince. Roger Masters crafts an epic tale out of a historical footnote. Although some of his conclusions are speculative in regards to Niccolò's and Leonardo's relationship, readers will likely find his narrative persuasive and deeply informed. .
Price: $3.90 [Notify me when price goes down.]

A celebration of one of the most famous 16th-century manuscripts, The Florentine Codex..
Price: $15.56 [Notify me when price goes down.]

127 pages | A lavishly illustrated guide to the famous museum in Florence, complete with maps of each room, and detailed discussions of each masterpiece Sections include: Entrance Hall; Room I: Formerly called the room of the Vase (now in the Louvre); Room II: Called the room of the sun; Room III: room of Apollo and Daphne; IV: called the Gallery or room of the emperors; V: room of the Hermaphrodite; VI: room of the gladiator; VII: Egyptian room; VIII: room of Silenus; Entrance to the Picture Gallery Floor; IX: Room of Dido, formerly room of the three graces; X: room of Hercules or room of sleep; XI: Ganymede; XII: room of Bacchanti; XIII: fame; XIV: Gallery of Lanfranco, 1624-1786; XV: room of Aurora; XVI: room of Flora; XVII: room of the Story of the Count of Angers; XVIII: room of Jupiter and Calliope; XIX: room of Paris and Helen; XX: room of Psyche, formerly of the Centaur. Includes selected bibliography and alphabetic index of names..
Price: $33.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

An amazing value in boxed note cards, our 'Florentine' design is embossed on linen card stock and accented with gold foil. All for only $8.99! Each box contains 14 cards with 15 matching, designer envelopes. Cards measure 3-1/2 x 5. Blank inside..
Price: $4.98 [Notify me when price goes down.]

For centuries the whereabouts of Leonardo da Vinci's masterwork mural of the Battle of Anghiari has been one of the art world's greatest mysteries. Those who saw Leonardo's mural during its brief existence applauded it as his greatest work. In Finding Leonardo, art historian Rab Hatfield revisits historical data providing the information that will be used for uncovering the painting..
Price: $19.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]