Florentine Villas in the Fifteenth Century An Architectural and Social History [Paperback]

This 2005 book investigates the architecture and patronage strategies of Florentine villas in fifteenth-century Italy.In this book, Amanda Lillie challenges the urban bias in Renaissance art and architectural history by investigating the architecture and patronage strategies in the Florentine countryside during the fifteenth century. Based entirely on unpublished archival material, her book examines a number of villas from this period. Here, the house is studied in relation to the families who lived in them and to the land that surrounded them. The villa emerges as a functional, utilitarian farming unit upon whose success families depended, and where dynastic and patrimonial values could be nurtured.In this book, Amanda Lillie challenges the urban bias in Renaissance art and architectural history by investigating the architecture and patronage strategies in the Florentine countryside during the fifteenth century. Based entirely on unpublished archival material, her book examines a number of villas from this period. Here, the house is studied in relation to the families who lived in them and to the land that surrounded them. The villa emerges as a functional, utilitarian farming unit upon whose success families depended, and where dynastic and patrimonial values could be nurtured.Amanda Lillie challenges the urban bias in Renaissance art and architectural history by investigating the architecture and patronage strategies in the Florentine countryside during the fifteenth century. Based entirely on unpublished archival material, her book examines a number of villas from this period. The villa emerges as a functional, utilitarian farming unit upon whose success families depended, and where dynastic and patrimonial values could be nurtured.Introduction; Part I. The Strozzi: 1. The acquisition and alienation of country property; 2. The agricultural estate; 3. Sites; 4. The villa complex; 5. Repair, construction and rural patronage; 6. The architecture of a 'Casa da Sigl“*