The Flowering of the Renaissance

An evocative picture of Rome at the turn of the sixteenth century... the account of Michelangelo is particularly memorable. At the same time Mr Cronin places the Renaissance firmly in its historical, political and religious setting... The book is beautifully written, and in his discussion of such artists as Titian and Giorgione Cronin shows a rare talent for describing and dissecting paintings.

Observer

It is Mr Cronin's outstanding achievement to have given this truly chaotic period a form which makes it intelligible - but without distorting its meaningthrough over-simplification.

Daily Telegraph