ABSTRACT
Among the major cities of northern and central Italy, Bologna is one of the most important centres of quattrocento palace development, noted particularly for its extensive use of brick and for fusing late Gothic and Early Renaissance styles of architecture. As with the Medici church, the unadorned surface of the facade gives no clue to the magnificence of the interior which articulates to an even greater extent than demonstrated at S Lorenzo the geometrical rigour of classical architecture as set out by Vitruvius. In response to the demand among Florence’s wealthy bankers and traders for stately urban residences some 30 palazzi were built in the city between 1450 and 1478 alone. In the smaller cities of Italy north of Rome during the Early Renaissance very few of the privately funded buildings that were constructed were secular; most were ecclesiastical.
