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This remains a very influential work on the Italian Renaissance and especially the origins of the Renaissance. It was published in the 19th century by one of the most acclaimed historians of the century. Burckhardt believed that there were several interlinking causes of the Renaissance. He believed that the elite was willing to become the patrons of great artists because they believe that they could 'legitimize their rule'.<ref>Jacob Burckhardt, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (Penguin Classics) Third Printing Edition, (Penguin Books Hamondsworth, 2000), p. 67)</ref> Many of the rulers of city-states, such as the Sforzas in Milan, were often tyrants or leaders of mercenary forces and they used art to persuade people they were the legitimate rulers. The Renaissance developed in a largely secular culture, because of the corruption of the church and this created an environment, where people could talk and create, relatively freely. Burckhardt also believed that the Italian preoccupation with arête or excellence, mean that people strove to great work of art and indeed ‘to turn their lives into art’.

6. M.J. Gill. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0582493374/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0582493374&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d54cd5fcddd28680d1a80781d683ec2d The Italian Renaissance: The Origins of Intellectual and Artistic Change Before the Reformation.]'' (Routledge, New York and London, 1990).