INTRODUCTION xxv The discovery of America but one of a series of notable achievements in Columbus' time. His century, 1450 to 1550, had more great men than any other in human history. In the arts it is unsurpassed. In its deeds it rivals every other century, above all in social work, in scholarship, in education and in its achievements in the sciences, physical as well as biological, and in medicine and surgery. Its literature is behind that of certain other periods of history, but this is the age of Leo X and one of the most interesting epochs of world literature in every European country. BOOK I. THE BOOK OF THE ARTS CHAPTER I GREAT PAINTERS; RAPHAEL 1 Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo the world's greatest painters. Raphael, greatest of religious painters. Born at Urbino. Duke Frederick patron of art. Studies with Timotheo Viti and Perugino. Influence of Fra Bartolommeo. Work at Rome. Stanze of the Vatican. Camera della Segnatura. Cartoons for Sistine tapestries. Sistine Madonna. Raphael, art director and archaeologist. CHAPTER II LEONARDO DA VINCI 15 "Mona Lisa." Walter Pater's tribute. The "Last Supper" disclosed genius and methods of artist. The "Madonna of the Rocks." Sculptor, engineer, geologist, anatomist, zoologist, botanist and biologist. Dissections and proposed text-book of anatomy. Career as artist. Surpasses his master Verrocchio. Scientific interests. Inventor. Personality, philosophy of life. Burckhardt's summary--"colossal genius" {x} CHAPTER III MICHELANGELO 32 Humble origin of world's greatest genius. Little interest in books. Studio of Ghirlandajo. Academy of Lorenzo de' Medici. Dissections. Early works. Pietà, reason for youthfulness of mother. David. Tomb of Pope Julius. Galley Slaves. Decoration of the Sistine Chapel. Moses. Sacristy of San Lorenzo. "Four-souled" Michelangelo's sonnets. Practical genius. Family cares. Advice on marriage. Friendship with Vittoria Colonna. Attitude toward religion. Influence waxes with time CHAPTER IV SECONDARY ITALIAN PAINTERS OF THE CENTURY: FRA ANGELICO, PERUGINO, FRA BARTOLOMMEO, BOTTICELLI, BELLINI, TITIAN, CORREGGIO, TINTORETTO, VERONESE AND OTHERS 53