Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume 3 (of 3) Illustrating the Arms, Arts, and Literature of Italy, from 1440 To 1630

The influence of beauty upon arts usually considered as mechanical, and the exercise of creative talent upon substances of a common or trifling character, are equally proofs of...

Our narrative of little interesting campaigns has now brought us to an event unparalleled in the horrors of modern warfare, by which the laws of nature, the dictates of humanity...

The liquid vocables of the Italian language flow in melody with a facility perilous to genius, fatal to mediocrity: its stream is equally apt to dilute Castalian inspiration, or...

The Prince's marriage--The Duke entrusts to him the government and retires to Castel Durante--His dissolute career and early death--Birth of his daughter Vittoria--The Duke rous...

Our passing notice of Italian song would be incomplete without the name of Italy's favourite bard, even had TASSO[*178] found no hospitality at Urbino, no sympathy from its Duch...

After his release from the cares of state, and from all anxiety as to the fate of his subjects and of his granddaughter, Francesco Maria was left to employ his unimpaired powers...

It was just after the fatal sack of Rome had dispersed the goodly company of painters, who, reared by Raffaele, and linked together by the recollection of his genius and his win...

The Duke's mischievous policy--New league against Charles V.--A French army reaches Naples--The Duke's campaign in Lombardy--Peace restored--Siege of Florence--Coronation of the...

"For a long lapse of years, Italy had been an organised body of highly civilised states, different in their origin, laws, and constitutions, divided by local jealousies and oppo...

In following the history of his father, we have details of the early life of Francesco Maria. Upon these we now turn back, and shall avail ourselves to the utmost of the Memoirs...

It would occupy a full chapter were we to trace the history of what Julius II. meant to have been his tomb, from the chisel of Michael Angelo Buonarroti; yet the subject is too...

Although the patriotism and loyalty of his people had been gratified by the gracious manner in which he had assented to their eager desire for his marriage, yet was there wantin...

Three nearly contemporary events had lately combined to extinguish the nationality of Italy, and those liberties which, shared in ample or more sparing measure by her many state...

This somewhat barren portion of our narrative may be appropriately enlivened by the marriage of Princess Elisabetta, sister of Guidobaldo, to Alberico Cibò, Prince of Massa. The...

Having thus thrown together all that the Duke has thought fit to detail regarding the principles of his government and the early events of his reign, we now proceed to narrate i...

The course of our narrative seems to offer a not altogether fanciful analogy to that of the Tiber. Issuing from the rugged Apennines, this, with puny rill, is gradually recruite...

The zenith of Italian art, especially of Italian painting, was attained between 1490 and 1520. That brief span, scarcely a generation of human life, not only embraced the entire...

Maiolica. Plate of Castel Durante ware about 1540, with a portrait medallion within a border of oak leaves. This pattern was called "Cerquata" or "al Urbinata," the oak being th...

This work was originally published in 1851. As noted below, footnotes marked by an asterisk were added by the editor of the 1909 edition, from which this e-book was prepared.

The Duke's monkish seclusion--His death and character--His portraits and letters--Notices of Princess Vittoria, and her inheritance--Fate of the ducal libraries--The duchy incor...

The Prince's marriage--The Duke entrusts to him the government, and retires to Castel Durante--His dissolute career and early death--Birth of his daughter Vittoria--The Duke rou...

The Duke's mischievous Policy--New league against Charles V.--A French army reaches Naples--The Duke's campaign in Lombardy--Peace restored--Siege of Florence--Coronation of the...

Torquato Tasso--His insanity--Theories of Dr. Verga and Mr. Wilde--His connection with Urbino--His intercourse with the Princess of Este--His portraits--His letter to the Duke o...