Book excerpt: This volume brings together the architecture, sculpture, and painting of three centuries -- 1300 to 1600 -- throughout Europe. Here is the whole of Renaissance art, set in the context of the religion, society, and economics of the time. The author has devised a system that sidesteps the usual broad chapters filled with sweeping developments. Instead he gives us shorter sections that provide close looks at the talents, schools, and generations of artists form whose scintillating creativity came what we now call Renaissance art. This presentation keeps continuous the history and local traditions of each area, yet follows the path of artists and patrons back and forth across the map of Europe. Sixty colorplates and 527 gauvre illustrations enrich the text. Other unusual features include supplementary notes identifying all works mentioned by not illustrated and a four-page foldout chronological chart in two colors bringing together all the artists in the book. -- From publisher's description.