The Renaissance workshop

David Saunders, Marika Spring, Andrew Meek

"The papers in this volume illustrate the way in which various types of technical evidence, derived from scientific examination and analysis, can contribute to the understanding of Renaissance workshop practices and the inter-relationships between different artists and artisans. These studies provide a vivid insight not only into the organization of craft and artistic endeavour in studios and workshops, but also into the everyday lives and concerns of those who ran and worked within them, showing that a great number of the challenges facing these artists and craftsmen are still relevant today. Originality and individuality were balanced against a sense and knowledge of what would sell, and the temptation to replicate the popular competed with the desire to innovate. Artists sought to make the best use of scarce, expensive materials and perhaps balanced the lower costs of those sourced...