EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR | “1527: The Sack of Rome and the End of the Renaissance in Italy”
Presented by Ross King
with Additional Commentary by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

In May 1527, Rome suffered one of the most devastating catastrophes in its long history. The Sack of Rome, carried out by mutinous imperial troops during the wars between Pope Clement VII and the emperor Charles V, was a moment of extraordinary violence that marked a turning point for Europe itself. This lecture explores why the sack happened, what it revealed about the fragile balance of power in Renaissance Italy, and how it reshaped the political, religious and artistic landscape of the continent.

The bloodshed and upheaval had profound psychological and cultural consequences. The Sack of Rome marked the abrupt end of Rome’s High Renaissance golden age: balance, harmony and classical optimism give way to anxiety, distortion and spiritual intensity. It triggered a dramatic “diaspora” of artists, as painters, sculptors and engravers fled the ruined city for courts across Italy, France, and beyond. Their dispersal helped spread a new artistic language across Europe – Mannerism – transforming the course of art history.

The webinar will include a 45-minute lecture followed by 15-minutes of Q&A.

Please note:

• Your participation is confirmed once you have purchased your ticket. You will receive the Zoom Link to join the presentation circa 30 minutes before the start time.
• VIDEO RECORDING of the webinar will be available for unlimited streaming at your convenience for 7 days after the event.

Ross King is the award-winning author of numerous books on Italian and French art and history, including Brunelleschi’s Dome and Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling. His biography Machiavelli: Philosopher of Power has been called a “convincing portrait of one of the most misunderstood thinkers of all time.” His most recent book, published in April 2021, is The Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts That Illuminated the Renaissance.