Audiobook Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume 2 (of 3)

The work opens with the intricate political machinations following the downfall of Cesare Borgia and the restoration of Duke Guidobaldo of Urbino to his ancestral seat. It traces the shifting alliances between the Italian principalities, the Papacy under Julius the Second, and foreign powers such as France and Spain, charting the turbulent rise and fall of petty despotisms across Romagna. The narrative then shifts to the intellectual life under the Montefeltri, detailing the patronage of humanists, poets, and artists who transformed the court into a cultural sanctuary. Castiglione's vision of the perfect courtier is analyzed alongside the works of scholars, historians, and secretaries like Polydoro di Vergilio and Giovanni Sanzi. A significant portion is dedicated to the development of the Italian comic drama, particularly the early performances of the Calandra, and the rise of classical scholarship alongside its attendant moral laxity. The volume concludes with an extensive analysis of the principles of Christian art, tracing the transition from traditional religious forms toward naturalism and classicism in the Umbrian school, and assessing the profound legacy of the ducal patrons on Italian history.