Pietre Dure And The Art Of Florentine Inlay

From the ancient history of decorative stonework comes a very special artistic phenomenon: the pietre dure, or polychrome hardstone inlay, which resurfaced in Rome in the sixteenth century, within the context of the artistic flowering of the Italian Renaissance.

From Rome, pietre dure spread to Florence, where the Medici family founded a prestigious workshop in 1588, dedicated to the production of hardstone works using materials such as coral, garnet, jasper and lapis lazuli. The art flourished for three centuries, thanks to the virtuoso skills of the finest craftsmen. Other workshops were founded at the Court of Rudolf II in Prague, and of Louis XIV in France, before spreading to Naples and Madrid under the Bourbon dynasty.

This book captures the beauty and craftsmanship of this ancient technique, illustrating outstanding examples of pietre dure, including works designed for the Cappella dei Principi, Florence, and the Schloss Favorite, Rastatt.