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At Renaissance Court

Episode 2 of 3

Stephen Smith explores Renaissance Florence under the reign of Grand Duke Cosimo Medici, where some of the greatest painters, sculptors and craftsmen in world history served.

Writer, broadcaster and Newsnight arts correspondent Stephen Smith explores Renaissance Florence under the reign of Grand Duke Cosimo Medici. Cosimo's fledgling court prized the finer things in life and some of the greatest painters, sculptors and craftsmen in world history came to serve the Grand Duke. But successful courtiers had to have brains as well as brawn. The canniest of them looked to theorists like Niccolo Machiavelli for underhand ways to get ahead, whilst enlightened polymaths turned their minds to the heavens, and to ice cream.

59 minutes

Clip

Music Played

  • The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

    I Vitelloni

  • Paul Bateman, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

    The Godfather Part II

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Stephen Smith
Executive Producer Basil Comely
Producer Suniti Somaiya
Director Suniti Somaiya
Production Coordinator Grace Brassington
Production Manager Nicholas Franklin

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