One of the great patrons of the Renaissance, creator of perhaps the most remarkable library outside the Vatican, the Duke of Urbino was also the most successful and feared mercenary of the a... read more
MH constructs an enthralling narrative of Vatican intrigue by drawing on Cardinal Ippolito d'Este's records of the papal conclave of 1559. She shows how both the papacy and the political fat... read more
Set in Florence and spanning three generations of women, this novel centres on the catastrophic floods of 1966 and the international volunteers - the 'angels of mud' - who helped.
Built in 1420-1436, the dome was not painted by Vasari and Zuccari until 1572-1579. This book, with text in English & Italian, presents in detail the entire pictorial cycle.
Celebrated particularly for its classical statues (qv the excellent recent The Torlonia Marbles), this Roman villa was the C18th creation of Cardinal Albani. It was preserved with its collec... read more
A handsome illustrated book on the Palazzo Castelluccio. Built in the C18th, it fell into ruin when the family died out in the C20th and has been restored by its new owner, the author. It co... read more
A lavishly illustrated work of scholarship, exploring maiolica's conversations with artifacts ranging from Islamic metalwork and Chinese porcelain to Venetian lace and glass.