Courts, art, and power

A notable artistic evolution emerged during the later Middle Ages (1250–1500), challenging perceptions of cultural stagnation. This period saw the advent of verisimilitude in Western art, with sculptures like those in Naumburg Cathedral's West Choir (c. 1240–50) pioneering lifelike representations—unseen since the Roman Empire. By the early 14th century, identifiable portraits appeared, particularly in devotional art, often commissioned by elite patrons, including princely courts. These courts served as crucibles for Renaissance culture, fostering diplomatic, artistic, and political practices that shaped early modern Europe. The study traces how later medieval civilization, through its patronage systems and iconography of power, laid the foundation for humanism, individualism, and the 'new' monarchies of the 16th century.

(Ed.). (2015). Courts, art, and power. The Renaissance World, 309–328. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203401163-27