5The Italian Renaissance is among the most glamorous epochs of European art. Art historians as well as a wide public are fascinated by three centuries of exceptionally prolific artistic creation that produced works of international fame such as Michelangelo's frescos in the Sistine Chapel. The cityscapes of the great centers of that time would be vastly different without their Renaissance architecture - cities like Florence, Rome, and Venice are veritable museums of an epoch whose art remains vital and influential even today. Impressive illustrations of works from every branch of the fine arts feature prominently in The Art of the Italian Renaissance, which not only explains various aspects of Renaissance art, but also invites readers to observe them closely with its fabulous pictures.