Chapter III.

THE RENAISSANCE IN ITALY: Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaele--Church of St. Peter, contemporary great artists--The Italian Palazzo--Methods of gilding, inlaying and mounting Furniture--Pietra-dura and other enrichments--Ruskin's criticism. THE RENAISSANCE IN FRANCE: Francois I. and the Chateau of Fontainebleau--Influence on Courtiers-Chairs of the time--Design of Cabinets--M.E. Bonnaffe on The Renaissance--Bedstead of Jeanne d'Albret--Deterioration of taste in time of Henry IV.--Louis XIII. Furniture--Brittany woodwork. THE RENAISSANCE IN THE NETHERLANDS: Influence of the House of Burgundy on Art--The Chimney-piece at Bruges, and other casts of specimens in South Kensington Museum. THE RENAISSANCE IN SPAIN: The resources of Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries--Influence of Saracenic Art--High-backed leather chairs--The Carthusian Convent at Granada. THE RENAISSANCE IN GERMANY: Albrecht Dürer--Famous Steel Chair of Augsburg--German seventeenth century carving in St. Saviour's Hospital. THE RENAISSANCE IN ENGLAND: Influence of Foreign Artists in the time of Henry VIII.--End of Feudalism--Hampton Court Palace--Linen pattern Panels--Woodwork in the Henry VII. Chapel at Westminster Abbey--Livery Cupboards at Hengrave--Harrison quoted--The "parler"--Alteration in English customs--Chairs of the sixteenth century--Coverings and Cushions of the time, extract from old Inventory--South Kensington Cabinet--Elizabethan Mirror at Goodrich Court--Shaw's "Ancient Furniture"--The Glastonbury Chair--Introduction of Frames into England--Characteristics of Native Woodwork--Famous Country Mansions--Alteration in design of Woodwork and Furniture--Panelled Rooms in South Kensington--The Charterhouse--Gray's Inn Hall and Middle Temple--The Hall of the Carpenters' Company--The Great Bed of Ware--Shakespeare's Chair--Penshurst Place.