This lovely book celebrates one of the most exciting periods in European art, featuring the greats of Italian art history, from Renaissance to Baroque. The 16th and 17th centuries saw the richest and most exciting developments in Italian painting and drawing, and this fully illustrated book, packed with colour images and details, draws on the superb examples of this period in the Royal Collection. It features paintings by Andrea del Sarto, Bronzino, Vasari, Correggio, Parmigianino, Bellini, Titian, Lorenzo Lotto, Palma Vecchio, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Guido Reni and Guercino, with drawings by Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Domenichino, Bernini and many more. An introductory essay presents a fascinating account of the changing patterns and motivation for royal patronage of Italian art over the centuries, while the wealth of illustrations provide the reader with an opportunity to study the paintings and drawings in close-up detail. This publication is a perfect introduction to Italian art and artists as well as a sumptuous souvenir of an exhibition of international importance. 153 colour & 7 b/w illustrations