About the Book
This work presents important materials - many previously unpublished in any language, and almost none previously available in English - for the history of the city-state of Venice. These sources cover the period from about 1450, when Venice was approaching the zenith of its power and reputation, to 1630, when there were unmistakable signs of economic and political decline. The work consists of substantial translated extracts from contemporary descriptions, chronicles, diaries, polemical writings, legislation, petitions, minute-books of guilds and religious brotherhoods, wills, notarial acts, and so forth. Containing both literary and documentary evidence, these texts illustrate important themes and are designed to build up a comprehensive account of government and society in Venice, and to present some aspects of its art, architecture and literature in relation to the people and public bodies that commissioned, paid for, bought, enjoyed, and otherwise supported them. Each section carries a succinct introduction and a bibliography intended to help readers to interpret the sources for themselves and to explore the issues that lie behind them.
The opening chapter offers descriptions of the city and its inhabitants, by authors who range from Marino Sanudo, the Venetian diarist and historian, writing in 1493, to the English and Spanish ambassadors, Carleton and Bedmar, who observed Venice with very different eyes in the early 17th century. Subsequent chapters deal with the following themes - the ideal and the private wealth; religious life; social orders (nobility, citizenry, and artisans); charity and the poor; foreign communities (Germans, Greeks, Jews and Turks); and cultural and intellectual life - how it was lived, and who paid for it - including literature, book publishing, entertainment, and the visual arts.
Table of Contents:
General descriptions; authority and government; law, order and social policy; public and private wealth; the present face of religion here; social orders; charity and the poor; most of their people are foreigners; cultural life - learning and literature, book publishing, entertainment; the visual arts.
About the Author :
David Chambers's previous books include: Patrons and Artists in the Italian Renaissance (1970), The Imperial Age of Venice, 1380-1580, and he is currently working on A Renaissance Cardinal and his Worldly Goods: Francesco Gonzaga. Brian Pullan's previous books include Rich and Poor in Renaissance Venice (1971), A History of Early Renaissance Italy (1973) and The Jews of Europe and the Inquisition of Venice, 1550-1670 (1983).
Review :
"This is an exciting educational enterprise, imaginatively and sensibly organized. Translated by a team of experts, the book is made up of short texts on nearly every aspect of Venetian life, including the urban topography, government, politics, social classes, religion, the city's large community of foreigners, crime and punishment, wealth public and private, poverty and charity, culture, entertainment, and the visual arts. This is a feast both for the classroom and the private study." Lauro Martines, UCLA "The new book, Venice: A Documentary History David Chambers and Brian Pullan gives a first-rate picture, through a series of documents of the 'Glorious-era' of Venice 1450-1650. University tutors will surely be full of gratitude to the editors for devising and completing such a useful volume of texts." The Historical Association
"Fascinating and informative." Italica
"This splendid anthology, containing 250 documents, brilliantly illustrates the history, government, economy, culture, society and art of Venice in the High Renaissance."
"This is the best collection of documents for a Renaissance city that I have ever seen." Sixteenth Century Journal
"An imaginative and comprehensive selection for teaching, and pleasing students with its readability and clear organisation. Anyone interested in early modern Venice should be stimulated." Italian Studies
"This is an excellent collection of documents."
"This collection of documents will be invaluable for teachers of early modern Italy." Parergom
