Venice: A Documentary History, 1450 - 1630

This work presents, in a handy and readable form, important materials - many previously unpublished in any language, and almost none previously available in English - for the history of the city-state of Venice. The work consists of substantial translated extracts from contemporary descriptions, chronicles, diaries, polemical writings, legislation, petitions, minute-books of guilds and religious brotherhoods, wills, notarial acts, and so forth. Containing both literary and documentary evidence, these texts illustrate important themes and are designed to build up a comprehensive account of government and society in Venice, and to present some aspects of its art, architecture and literature in relation to the people and public bodies that commissioned, paid for, bought, enjoyed, and otherwise supported them.