45 episodes

Welcome to the Italian Renaissance Podcast, where we discuss the culture and art of fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy. This podcast aims not only to provide a general overview of historical themes of the Renaissance, but also to dive deeply into interpreting how we understand the period today through analysis of key figures, moments, texts, but most importantly, the art. I intend this podcast to be both a useful study guide for students, and an engaging and digestible source of information for a general audience interested in enhancing their own understanding of Western history. Follow us on Instagram for images and updates: @italian_renaissance_podcast

The Italian Renaissance Podcast Lawrence Gianangeli

    • Arts
    • 4.8 • 73 Ratings

Welcome to the Italian Renaissance Podcast, where we discuss the culture and art of fifteenth and sixteenth century Italy. This podcast aims not only to provide a general overview of historical themes of the Renaissance, but also to dive deeply into interpreting how we understand the period today through analysis of key figures, moments, texts, but most importantly, the art. I intend this podcast to be both a useful study guide for students, and an engaging and digestible source of information for a general audience interested in enhancing their own understanding of Western history. Follow us on Instagram for images and updates: @italian_renaissance_podcast

    Ep. 45: Dr. Alan Pascuzzi, Bronze Casting and "Becoming Michelangelo."

    Ep. 45: Dr. Alan Pascuzzi, Bronze Casting and "Becoming Michelangelo."

    I am joined by the Florence based artist and art historian Dr. Alan Pascuzzi for a thrilling interview about his career as an artist following the techniques of the Renaissance masters. We first discuss the process of becoming a sculptor and painter in the Renaissance techniques. He walks us through his technical process, looking closely at his recent allegorical bronze group for Florida State University in Florence. Our conversation drifts to the monumental Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini, where Alan talks us through the relationship between the casting process in the Renaissance and the modern age. 

    We conclude our conversation around Alan's methodology in his book, "Becoming Michelangelo: Apprenticing to the Master and Discovering the Artist Through His Drawings," where he recounts the insight learned by copying 135 of Michelangelo's drawings from his early career, a unique blending of studio art and art historical scholarship. 

    To purchase "Becoming Michelangelo:" https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Becoming-Michelangelo/Alan-Pascuzzi/9781950994373

    Follow us on Instagram for images: @italian_renaissance_podcast
    Get additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon.com/TheItalianRenaissancePodcast 
    Support the Show.

    • 47 min
    Ep. 44: Frank Nero Part 2: San Martino del Vescovo

    Ep. 44: Frank Nero Part 2: San Martino del Vescovo

    Join me in conversation with Frank Nero, who takes us on a journey to a hidden gem in Florence, San Martino del Vescovo. This oratory serves as a fascinating case study of the intersections between Medici power and art patronage, as well as offering a glimpse into the everyday of Florentine life in the Quattrocento.

    The oratory frescoes depict scenes of the deeds of the buonuomini, painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his workshop. Nero gives us a detailed history of the foundation and function of the space, as well as a captivating explanation of the fresco cycle found within. 

    Instagram: italian_renaissance_podcast 


    Get additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon.com/TheItalianRenaissancePodcast 
    Support the Show.

    • 45 min
    Ep.43: Frank Nero Part 1: Teaching Renaissance Art in Florence, Italy

    Ep.43: Frank Nero Part 1: Teaching Renaissance Art in Florence, Italy

    It is with great pleasure that I welcome Frank Nero to the podcast. Nero is an art historian, award-winning educator, and former director of Florida State University Florence. He specializes in on-site lectures, having taught and inspired thousands of students during his career, myself included. 

    The first part of this interview departs from our typical mode of discussion, and looks at the living legacy of Renaissance art from the perspective of someone who teaches it outside of the classroom. Not only does Nero provide inside information on the structure of international education through the American university system, the good and the bad (also the ugly), but also tells hilarious stories and experiences that come with hauling students through crowded historical sites across Italy. 

    ***Nero calls by my familiar name, Reed instead of Lawrence... or Reedy, because he's a funny guy. 

    Instagram: italian_renaissance_podcast 
    Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianRenShop



    Get additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon.com/TheItalianRenaissancePodcast 
    Support the Show.

    • 45 min
    Ep. 42: The Followers of Raphael Part 2: Giovanni da Udine, feat. Esme Garlake

    Ep. 42: The Followers of Raphael Part 2: Giovanni da Udine, feat. Esme Garlake

    Join me in the continuation of my conversation with ecocritical art historian and climate activist Esme Garlake. In the second part of our interview, we discuss the works of Raphael's pupil, Giovanni da Udine. Giovanni not only had an intense fascination with accurately depicting the natural world, which we discuss via his drawings, but had a substantial role in decorating Agostino Chigi's Villa Farnesina in Rome alongside Raphael and Giulio Romano.

    Beyond the Renaissance, Esme provides valuable perspective on climate activism in museum spaces, and the role of art in how we envision the sustainability of our planet. 

    For more of Esme's work: 
    Blog: https://medium.com/@esme.garlake
    Article: https://envhistnow.com/2023/05/04/towards-an-ecocritical-art-history/
    Research Profile: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-history/esme-garlake 
    Linktree: https://linktr.ee/italian_renaissance_podcast     
    Podcast Instagram: @italian_renaissance_podcast 
    Get additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon.com/TheItalianRenaissancePodcast 
    Support the Show.

    • 32 min
    Ep. 41: The Followers of Raphael Part 1: Ecocritical Art History and Giulio Romano, feat. Esme Garlake

    Ep. 41: The Followers of Raphael Part 1: Ecocritical Art History and Giulio Romano, feat. Esme Garlake

    Join me in conversation in two parts with Esme Garlake, an ecocritical art historian and climate activist who centers her research on the interaction between the artist and the natural world. We are talking about two artists who were trained under Raphael, Giulio Romano and Giovanni da Udine.  How do animals manifest in their works, and what does it tell us about the social history of sixteenth century Italy?

    Part one focuses on establishing how an ecocritical approach is used to analyze Renaissance art via Raphael before turning to the Palazzo Te in Mantua, and Giulio Romano's Sala dei Cavalli and the Banquet of Cupid and Psyche.

    For more of Esme's work: 
    Blog: https://medium.com/@esme.garlake
    Article: https://envhistnow.com/2023/05/04/towards-an-ecocritical-art-history/
    Research Profile: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/art-history/esme-garlake 
        
    Podcast Instagram: @italian_renaissance_podcast 







    Get additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon.com/TheItalianRenaissancePodcast 
    Support the Show.

    • 32 min
    Ep. 40: Romeo and Juliet: The Italian Renaissance Novella that Inspired Shakespeare, feat. Michael Curtotti

    Ep. 40: Romeo and Juliet: The Italian Renaissance Novella that Inspired Shakespeare, feat. Michael Curtotti

    Welcome to the Italian Renaissance Podcast Interview Series!

    Passionate translator Michael Curtotti joins us on the podcast to discuss the Renaissance novelliere Matteo Bandello and his Romeo and Juliet, which serves as the inspiration to the famous play by William Shakespeare. Curtotti has recently published a new translation of Bandello's novella, a must read for all lovers of Renaissance literature. 

    Purchase the book here:
    English only: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMPFGPCJ
    English-Italian Parallel Language Edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0645844608

    For more information on Michael Curtotti: https://beyondforeignness.org 



    Get additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon.com/TheItalianRenaissancePodcast 
    Support the Show.

    • 46 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
73 Ratings

73 Ratings

mil28473 ,

Love it love it

I’m ready for my deep dive!! Let’s gooooooo

Sarah.Landeck_writes ,

Bravissimo!

I discovered this podcast last week and I’m totally hooked! Lawrence provides solid insights into this fascinating period and does a phenomenal job guiding the listener through the complex layers of each topic in an entertaining and detailed way that allows you to easily retain the information! I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Angela Sestito ,

Yes I binged….

Planning a trip to Italy and wanted to know more about art and history. This podcast is the key - I even changed some plans because I want to see the art highlighted. I can’t wait for season 3!

Top Podcasts In Arts

Fresh Air
NPR
The Moth
The Moth
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Lemonada Media
The Recipe with Kenji and Deb
Deb Perelman & J. Kenji López-Alt
The Magnus Archives
Rusty Quill

You Might Also Like

In Our Time
BBC Radio 4
In Our Time: Culture
BBC Radio 4
In Our Time: History
BBC Radio 4
The History of Byzantium
thehistoryofbyzantium@gmail.com
You're Dead to Me
BBC Radio 4
In Our Time: Science
BBC Radio 4