Roscoe and Italy

In 1795 William Roscoe (1753-1831) published a biography of Lorenzo de' Medici, which proved so popular that it prompted claims that Roscoe had effectively invented the Italian Renaissance as it has been known by subsequent generations of readers in the English-speaking world. Despite such enthusiastic assertions, however, this collection of essays is the first systematic attempt to examine Roscoe and his contribution towards modern conceptions of the Renaissance. Covering a range of subjects from art history and literature, to politics and culture, the volume provides a fascinating picture both of Roscoe and his historical legacy.