The Intellectual Life of the Early Renaissance Artist Francis Ames-Lewis

Regarded as artisans and craftsmen in the early 15th century, painters and sculptors acquired new status as "artists" within little more than a hundred years. Francis Ames-Lewis explores how Mantegna, da Vinci, Raphael, Durer and others gained intellectual respect and artistic autonomy from enlightened patrons by promoting the idea of the artist as a creative genius with a distinct identity and individuality.

Francis Ames-Lewis is professor of history of Renaissance art at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the author of Drawing in Early Renaissance Italy (0 300 07981 8, [pound]18.95*), available in paperback from Yale University Press.

"Ames-Lewis provides an excellent guide to the ingenious and sometimes elaborate attempts by artists to raise their social profile, and so guarantee acceptance as courtiers and gentlefolk." Joseph Rykwert, Times Literary Supplement "Opens our eyes, in an exciting and perceptive way, to many neglected aspects of the art of early Renaissance Europe and the lives of the men who made it." Michael Hall, Country Life "An elegant book. Ames-Lewis has written an excellent introduction to an important subject." James Hall, Independent "The 150 illustrations deserve special praise for stinting on the familiar in favour of unusual and interesting works that make strong points about the social meaning of art." Paul Raynes, Literary Review "A treasure trove of information." Choice "An amazing compendium of information." Marilyn A. Lavin, CAA Reviews