The revival of letters in Italy--Influence of the princes--Classical tastes tending to pedantry and paganism--Greek philosophy and its effects--Influence of the Dukes of Urbino 93 CHAPTER XXIV Count Guidantonio a patron of learned men--Duke Federigo--The _Assorditi_ Academy--Dedications to him--Prose writers of Urbino--Gentile Becci, Bishop of Arezzo--Francesco Venturini--Berni of Gubbio--Polydoro di Vergilio--Vespasiano Filippi--Castiglione--Bembo--Learned ladies 109 CHAPTER XXV Poetry under the Montefeltri--Sonnets--The Filelfi--Giovanni Sanzi--Porcellio Pandonio--Angelo Galli--Federigo Veterani--Urbani Urbinate--Antonio Rustico--Naldio--Improvisatori--Bernardo Accolti--Serafino d'Aquila--Agostino Staccoli--Early comedies--_La Calandra_--Corruption of morals--Social position of women 130 CHAPTER XXVI Mediæval art chiefly religious--Innovations of Naturalism, Classicism, and Paganism--Character and tendencies of Christian painting ill-understood in England--Influence of St. Francis 157 CHAPTER XXVII The Umbrian School of Painting, its scholars and influence--Fra Angelico da Fiesole--Gentile da Fabriano--Pietro Perugino--Artists at Urbino--Piero della Francesca--Fra Carnevale--Francesco di Giorgio 184 CHAPTER XXVIII Giovanni Sanzi of Urbino--His son, the immortal Raffaele--Early influences on his mind--Paints at Perugia, Città di Castello, Siena, and Florence--His visits to Urbino, and works there 216 CHAPTER XXIX Raffaele is called to Rome, and employed upon the Stanze--His frescoes there--His other works--Change in his manner--Compared with Michael Angelo--His death, character, and style 235 CHAPTER XXX Timoteo Viti--Bramante--Andrea Mantegna--Gian Bellini--Justus of Ghent--Medals of Urbino 254 BOOK FIFTH OF THE DELLA ROVERE FAMILY CHAPTER XXXI Birth and elevation of Sixtus IV.--Genealogy of the della Rovere family--Nepotism of that pontiff--His improvements in Rome--His patronage of letters and arts--His brother Giovanni becomes Lord of Sinigaglia and Prefect of Rome--His beneficent sway--He pillages a papal envoy--Remarkable story of Zizim or Gem--Portrait of Giovanni--The early character and difficulties of Julius II.--Estimate of his pontificate 277 BOOK SIXTH OF FRANCESCO MARIA DELLA ROVERE, FOURTH DUKE OF URBINO CHAPTER XXXII Youth of Duke Francesco Maria I.--The League of Cambray--His marriage--His first military service--The Cardinal of Pavia's treachery--Julius II. takes the field 313 CHAPTER XXXIII