Ethics of Ornament in Early Modern Naples

J. Nicholas Napoli has taught history of art and architecture at the University of York, University of Virginia, and Pratt Institute. He has contributed articles on Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture to 'Art History', 'Napoli Nobilissima', and 'Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome'. Nick lives in Brooklyn, and is currently an M.Arch candidate at City College of New York and works with System Architects in New York.

'This book explores the decoration of the Carthusian monastic complex of San Martino and considers it in relation to Carthusian identity and institutional ideals. It benefits from a good deal of new archival material. It will be of particular interest to specialist scholars on baroque art and architecture, patronage, and of early modern Naples. Its publication coincides with a renewed scholarly interest in Naples and also with a currently fashionable concern with "the business of art".' Helen Hills, University of York, UK, and Co-founder of Neapolitan Network 'The Ethics of Ornament is an intelligent, comprehensive, and highly useful study of the use and meaning of ornament in ecclesiastical art and architecture during this remarkable period of artistic and architectural productivity in Naples.' Vernon H. Minor, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA

• Contents: Introduction; Ornament as social virtue: the theory of magnificence from the Duke of Calabria to Severo Turboli; Sanctioned on earth as in the annals of eternity: celebrating Carthusian humility; Justice: nurturing personal and professional trust between patrons and artists; Industry: the enterprise of Cosimo Fanzago in early modern Naples; Towards an enlightened piety; Conclusion; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.