Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Machiavelli, Niccolò nēk-kōlôˈ mäkyävĕlˈlē [key], 1469–1527, Italian author and statesman, one of the outstanding figures of the Renaissance, b. Florence. Machiavelli's best-known work, ...

(Encyclopedia) Italian art, works of art produced in the geographic region that now constitutes the nation of Italy. Italian art has engendered great public interest and involvement, resulting in the consistent prod...

(Encyclopedia) Rohan, Louis René Édouard, prince de rôäNˈ [key], 1734–1803, French churchman and politician, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Although he succeeded (1779) his uncle as archbishop of Str...

(Encyclopedia) Lorenzo di Credi lōrĕnˈtsō dē krĕˈdē [key], 1459–1537, Florentine painter. He spent his early years in the workshop of Verrocchio, whom he assisted in the painting of an altarpiece at the Ca...

(Encyclopedia) Michelozzo Michelozzi mēkālôtˈtsō mēkālôtˈtsē [key], 1396–1472, Italian sculptor, architect, goldsmith, and founder. He was long associated with Donatello and Ghiberti. His first independe...

(Encyclopedia) Clement VII, c.1475–1534, pope (1523–34), a Florentine named Giulio de' Medici; successor of Adrian VI. He was the nephew of Lorenzo de' Medici and was therefore first cousin of Pope Leo X. In 151...

(Encyclopedia) San Lorenzo, town, S Honduras, on the Gulf of Fonseca. Its satellite, Henecán is the chief Pacific port of Honduras. Henecán's modern port facilities and deepwater harbor and channel approach were c...

(Encyclopedia) merchant marine: see shipping.

(Encyclopedia) law merchant: see commercial law. ...

(Encyclopedia) Diane de Poitiers pwätyāˈ [key], 1499–1566, duchess of Valentinois, mistress of King Henry II of France. Noted for her beauty, Diane, who was much older than Henry, retained her influence over hi...