WORLDLY GOODS

A perceptive history of the Renaissance from an original angle: its appetite for material possessions. Jardine (English/Univ. of London) argues that the unashamed pursuit of valuable possessions, including great religious and secular art, was a defining characteristic of the period. The new age of learning and exploration was also, she reminds us, an age driven by the urge to own, to publicly succeed, and the author views the typical ``Renaissance man'' as being motivated by conspicuous consumption as much as by humanist principles. The leading members of Renaissance society sought to live in ornate palaces filled with fine paintings, sculpture, marble and rare stone, porcelain, Venetian glass, silk from China, broadcloth from London, rich velvet, and fine tapestries and carvings—hardly the spiritual symbols of a deeply religious era. Yet Renaissance religious art reflected a true spirituality: Most Renaissance artists believed that only the very best was good enough to honor their sacred subjects. In Jardine's view, the Renaissance uniquely combined the sacred with the profane: She cites examples of literature and art that blithely mixed a celebration of valuable commodities with sacred themes. During the Renaissance, city-states like Venice and Genoa grew fat channeling the riches and spices of the Orient into Europe. Trading, capital investment, banking, and credit all accelerated the creation of a new wealthy class. Ostentation reflected the authority of powerful princes of the states and the Church, and the achievements of great merchants. Some innovations improved the lot of the common man and inspired more humble consumption. In particular, the invention of the printing press made formerly handwritten rare copies of Greek and Roman classics available to learned commoners. Jardine's primary research and conclusions appear sound and convincing, providing new insights into the acquisitive basis of a fascinating age that helped to shape our world. (16 color plates, 60 b&w illustrations, not seen) (Author tour)