Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume 2 (of 3) Illustrating the Arms, Arts, and Literature of Italy, from 1440 To 1630.

A vivid portrait of Renaissance Italy unfolds through the eyes of the Montefeltro and Della Rovere dynasties, whose courts in Urbino blended political intrigue with a fierce love of the arts. The early chapters trace the violent clash of papal ambitions, from the massacre of Sinigaglia and the death of Alexander VI to the dramatic rise and fall of Cesare Borgia, while Guidobaldo’s narrow escape and knighthood hint at the fragile balance of power that defined the era.

Beyond battlefield drama, the memoir celebrates the cultural flowering nurtured by the dukes: the establishment of academies, the patronage of poets such as Castiglione and Bembo, and the commissioning of masterpieces by artists like Raphael, Mantegna and Perugino. Rich illustrations accompany detailed notes on the evolution of painting, poetry, and courtly manners, offering listeners a window into a world where noble ambition and artistic brilliance walked hand in hand.