Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents -- List of Figures -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction --  Research Context --  Sources and Methodology --  Structure -- 1 Membership and Administration of the scuole grandi --  1 The Civic Role of the scuole grandi --  2 The scuole grandi as ‘Little Republics’ for the cittadini --  3 Precious Memories: Structure and Materiality of the Libri d’Argento --  4 Social Ties, Admission and Membership in the Confraternities --  5 Corruption and Regulation of scuole Governance --  6 Conclusion -- 2 Cittadini Patronage in the scuole grandi --  1 The Relationship between scuole and the Civic Unity of the cittadini --  2 Processions and Rituals --  3 Patronage of Books --  4 Cittadini Artistic Patronage in Relation to the scuole --  5 Scuole Medals --  6 Conclusion -- 3 Cittadini Cultural Networks --  1 Lawyers of Venice: an Honourable Profession --  2 The Early Creation of Cultural Networks: the Education of cittadini --  3 The Intellectual Circle: Academies, ridotti and Friendships --  4 Patrons and Friends of Writers --  5 The Arts as a Cultural Gathering --  6 Conclusion -- 4 Cittadini, Parishes and the Counter-Reformation --  1 New Opportunities for Patronage: Church Reconstruction --  2 Cittadini and Chapels within Parish Churches --  3 Clergy, Laity and the Promotion of New Cults of Saints --  4 Speaking Tombs: Burial Sites and Social Relationships --  5 Conclusion -- Conclusion -- Bibliography --  Archives --  Primary Sources: Manuscripts --  Primary Sources: Printed Texts --  Secondary Sources -- Index.

In this volume Giulia Zanon sheds new light on our grasp of social hierarchy and the possibilities for social mobility in pre-modern Italy. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach that combines deep archival research with a multitude of artistic and architectural artefacts, this work breaks new ground by contextualizing the part played by social relationships and the arts in publicly affirming and displaying the prestige of the middling sorts, the cittadini , in early modern Venice.

English

Description based on print version record.