Brings to light the significant influence of Boccaccio's text on the representation of classical heroines in Renaissance art. The author demonstrates that "Famous Women" was employed as a guide by patrons and artists to draw the teeth from the challenge of powerful women by co-opting their stories into the service of Italian standards.
'Franklin follows her discussion of Boccaccio's work with a historical analysis of both texts and images influenced by it during the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, showing how different circumstances and audiences led to different interpretations of these female heroines. Richly researched and clearly written, and accompanied by illustrations of the images discussed, Boccaccio's Heroines offers a fine contribution to Boccaccio studies and women's studies for both students and scholars.' Professor Janet L. Smarr, UC San Diego, USA 'Boccaccio's Heroines is thoroughly researched, clearly presented, and accompanied by eighteen black-and-white illustrations that offer significant visual evidence for the discussion. It is a welcome contribution to Boccaccio studies and to the study of Renaissance art, and will be useful to both students and scholars in a variety of disciplines.' Sixteenth Century Journal 'One book that stands out is Margaret Franklin's Boccaccio's Heroines. This volume, which includes Italian literature, art history, gender studies, cultural history, is a solid contribution to Boccaccio studies...Franklin's book will benefit students of Boccaccio's De mulieribus claris and can also serve as a tool for scholars of early modern Italian culture, especially those interested in gender.' H-Net Review 'This is a concise and well-presented volume in which the principal thesis is clearly articulated and developed while fulfilling the dual function of rereading a classic text and providing a partial reception study. ... this text will undoubtedly, and rightly, find its way onto many an undergraduate reading list.' Modern Language Review '... Boccaccio's Heroines [is] a very useful starting-point for anybody new to the study of women in Italy.' Heliotropia
