The Light of Italy: The Life and Times of Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino

by Jane Stevenson

The story of the Renaissance city and palace of Urbino, and the life of the extraordinary man who created Federico da Montefeltro— humanist, book-collector, patron of celebrated artists and battle-scarred mercenary soldier.

'Painstakingly researched and yet unfailingly readable' Ross King
'An insight into one of Renaissance Italy's most glamorous courts' Catherine Fletcher
'The perfect tour guide to the past' Literary Review
'A fabulous merging of seductive design with bravura scholarship' Alexandra Harris
'A superior study... Packed with detail' TLS

The one-eyed mercenary soldier Federico da Montefeltro, lord of Urbino between 1444 and 1482, was one of the most successful condottiere of the Italian renowned humanist, patron of the artist Piero della Francesca, and creator of one of the most celebrated libraries in Italy outside the Vatican. From 1460 until her early death in 1472 he was married to Battista, of the formidable Sforza family, their partnership apparently blissful. In the fine palace he built overlooking Urbino, Federico assembled a court regarded by many as representing a high point of Renaissance culture. For Baldassare Castiglione, Federico was la luce dell'Italia – 'the light of Italy'.

Jane Stevenson's affectionate account of Urbino's flowering and decline casts revelatory light on patronage, politics and humanism in fifteenth-century Italy. As well as recounting the gripping stories of Federico and his Montefeltro and della Rovere successors, Stevenson considers in details Federico's cultural legacy – investigating the palace itself, the splendors of the ducal library, and his other architectural projects in Gubbio and elsewhere.

Genres: History, Italy, Biography, Art, Renaissance, European History

434 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Dr. Jane Stevenson (born 1959) is a UK author who was born in London and brought up in London, Beijing and Bonn. She has lectured in history at Sheffield University, and teaches literature and history at the University of Aberdeen. Her fiction books include Several Deceptions, a collection of four novellas; a novel, London Bridges; and the historical trilogy made up of the novels The Winter Queen, The Shadow King, and The Empress of the Last Days. Stevenson lives in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Her academic publications include Women Latin Poets (Oxford University Press), Early Modern Women Poets with Peter Davidson (Oxford University Press) and The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby, co-edited with Peter Davidson (Prospect Books).

Reviews

[Ambrogio · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book is a compact and pacy biography of Federico, a really interesting politician, soldier, and nobleman. It focusses on his court at Urbino. The second half flags, padded out with stories of Federico’s descendants. There is too much historical information about marriages and treaties but not much sense of fifteenth-century Italy. Enjoyably written but not well structured or edited

[Daniel Gusev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Called “the light of Italy” by Baldassarre Castiglione - who came into the service of Federico’s son Guidobaldo - Federico military exploits - being employed as a condottiere - allowed to perform the learned aspects of a chivalric behaviour lauded by French and Spanish kings - and relay them in devotional themes of sponsored treatises and art forms.

Accumulating a massive fortune during his major years of employment by Sforza, Medici and Sixtus IV, estimated to eclipse 875000 ducats (where most merchants’ revenue - not profits - only achieved 20000 per year, where F cleared close to 70000) - he followed the reviewed acceptance of intellectual opulence (rediscovered in classic texts - namely, Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics - enshrining his persona through art).

Jane Stevenson wrote a magnificent, balanced and deeply engrossing book about Federico, full of thoroughly researched instances that other literature on Urbino misses completely.

One such example is a detailed study of Brera Madonna by Piero della Francesca - full of hidden meanings (a near perfect symmetry of the composition is wronged by empty space to which pious and contemplative and dedicative pose of Francesco is facing). Is it a place of his departed devoted wife Battista - otherwise taken by a background of a Saint Conversation group and John the Baptist - who is her patron saint?). Who actually painted the hands of Francesco? Does he see the background to his right - having lost an eye at jousting (over a woman)?

Numerous mentions of wonderful texts of the past - besides Castiglione one can go through Alberti’s “On Architecture” or “Art of Painting”, or remember how della Francesca was himself a learned man of mathematics - writing a treatise on Platonic Solids.

[GBL · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this magnificent book, Jane Stevenson tells the story of Federico da Montefeltro, the famous Duke of Urbino and the story of how he changed the city of Urbino, creating a model Renaissance city.

Stevenson clearly loves her subject and has done the research to produce a detailed history of Urbino and its famous Duke. She describes Federico’s career as a condottiere and how he used the money made from his fighting career to develop the city of Urbino and his own properties in the city and elsewhere. It was the responsibility of a noble to show his wealth and in a variety of projects Federico displayed his personality and position in society. Stevenson tells the story of the Dukedom after Federico’s death until the city was claimed by the Papacy when the line of dukes ran out.

The book is handsomely produced with colour illustrations supporting Stevenson’s text and has to be on the reading list of anyone with an interest in the history of Renaissance Italy.

[Hannah Trower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and engaging historical text. Thoroughly researched, but would recommend to those with no background knowledge as well. Focuses on Federico da Montefeltro, and treats him as a largely sympathetic human being, but not necessarily the paragon of Humanist virtue that he has been portrayed as. I feel for his personal life and struggles now, I suppose, but I will never forgive him for what he did in Volterra in 1472 (or more accurately, chose *not* to do)---Volterra still has my heart. While the book focuses on him, there is extensive discourse on Urbino more broadly, from a fairly brief but informative treatment of Federico's ancestors (particularly his ... Father/grandfather depending on what you believe, but also as far as the Montefeltros who featured in Dante) and a more indepth study of the later dukes up to the present day. Highly recommend!

[Ratratrat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ma è mai possibile che interessanti libri sulla storia, l’arte, la vita del Rinascimento italiano li scrivano gli inglesi e non gli italiani? Ho imparato tantissimo da questo libro, su Federico da Montefeltro, le sue mogli, i suoi parenti, la successione ai della Rovere, le sue collezioni..

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sumptuous treatise for lovers of the Renaissance, featuring high quality reproductions of artworks, mini biographies and summaries of key historical events such as the Sack of Rome.

[Caomhghain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite splendid and comprehensive history of the man and much of his city. Particularly good at putting events and activities in context.

[Les Dangerfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the lives and motivations of Renaissance Italian nobility. For me, somewhat over-detailed in descriptions of art and architecture.

[Riccardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biography is excellent, the architecture lost me a tiny bit.

[Hans Demin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed story of one of many medieval city-states in Rennaisance Italy, written by a well-informed author.
Gives a good view on politics in 15 and 16th century Italy.