We hear a great deal about individual artists and sculptors and obviously we see their great works that can leave us reeling in wonder, but we don’t often think about the society for which these marvellous art-forms were made. We know a surprisingly great amount about it because of a number of books advising people on how to better themselves. In addition the main patrons were often businessmen such as the Medici family; used to recording transactions, they also recorded events surrounding commissioning pictures and statues.

We know that this society was fascinated by the arts in general and had both time and the means to pursue their interests. We know that status was everything and that that manifested itself in show whether of decoration in their houses or in how they dressed.

This lecture may be useful in that it offers advice to time travellers on how to live in Renaissance Italy.