Unification by replication: Music, architecture, and the imperial image of Ercole I d'Este

Throughout his reign, Duke Ercole I d'Este (1431--1505) modeled his image as a ruler after those of classical antiquity. This determined and focused agenda was the driving force behind the artistic outpouring of late fifteenth-century Ferrara. By drawing parallels between the music of his most prominent court composer, Johannes Martini, and the classical architecture of Ferrara, I will demonstrate that Ercole's aspirations brought artistic unity to the city. Ercole's musical, architectural, and physical enhancements to Ferrara were unprecedented, and scholars have long admired them as individual accomplishments. Yet a close examination of Ercole's endeavors as a whole reveals a city unified by a specific, imitative technique. This technique relied on extensive quotation, and it is found throughout all of Ferrara's artistic media, reflecting Ercole's efforts to magnify and immortalize his imperial image.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Music

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Mowrey, Hannah Hutchens

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Barnett, Gregory R.

• Music

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17806

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/17806