ABSTRACT
The paradox of the period known as the “High Renaissance” in art is that it coincides precisely with that of the so-called “Italian Wars” described in the last chapter, leading to the catastrophic 1527 Sack of Rome. Generally recognized as one of the eras of the greatest flourishing of art in history, these years of extreme political instability saw the creation of masterpieces by Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bramante, Titian, Giorgione, Mantegna, and many others. Artists were compelled to move from place to place in search of reliable sources of patronage: Leonardo looked for work designing weapons and military engineering for the duke of Milan, while Michelangelo was called upon to design fortifications for the Florentine Republic. Numerous other artists sought employment and refuge at smaller Italian courts. Despite the dangerous and chaotic mood of the day, the works of painting, sculpture, and architecture of the Italian High Renaissance remain some of the finest ever created.
