It is a widely held opinion that the rediscovery of classical culture brought about a profound change in Italy’s fifteenth century society and that the arts of the period reflect how no longer God but man became the centre of the world. However, in contrast to what iconological studies might suggest, it is highly unlikely that the religious paintings and sculptures of the Renaissance deal with the ephemeral worldly issues their interpretations suggest. Whatever changes the renewed interest in classical culture brought about during the Renaissance, they did not affect the fundamentals of Christian religion.

The author of this book shows, in four essays dedicated to so many famous works of religious art from the period, that in the light of the principles of Christian doctrine the religious art of the Renaissance does not deal with contemporary issues or the glorification of its donors but with the history of salvation. Each of the works under examination testifies to the faith of their commissioners, to their fear of God’s judgment and their hope of eternal life.