The Power of Images Siena, 1338

"In his elegant, vivid prose, Patrick Boucheron comes as near as anyone can to allowing images to speak. Here, Lorenzetti's paintings are not buried by texts and references: they tell us their own story, of a very direct equation between common good and communal government."
John Watts, Corpus Christi College, Oxford
 
"Italian communes took politics seriously. They adorned public spaces with edifying political allegories of bad and good government. Patrick Boucheron's The Power of Images elegantly discusses Siena's use of images - official wall-paintings - as a warning and a prompt, away from abuse of political power and towards justice for all. This is exciting history, and all too timely a read."
Miri Rubin, Queen Mary University of London
 
"This superbly written book invites us to reflect on both history and art, and entices us to go and experience Tuscany for ourselves"
Livres Hebdo
 
"Analyzing the fresco of 'Good Government' painted in Siena in the 14th century, Boucheron powerfully elucidates the nature of political representation."
Philosophie Magazine