"Few artists of the fifteenth century are as revered today as Piero della Francesca (c.1413-92). The 'favourite artist' of many painters and sculptors of our own time, he is admired especially for the balance of his compositions, the geometric perfection of his forms and the emotional coolness of his style. The secret of these qualities lies in part in Piero's achievements as a mathematician - one of the greatest of his age who wrote three treatises on the subject. Even so, most of his paintings were commissioned to serve a religious function and were appreciated by his contemporaries for their spiritual value." "In this survey, which benefits from superlative new photography of recently cleaned frescos, Marilyn Aronberg Lavin offers detailed analyses of all of Piero's surviving works. Situating his images within the context of early Renaissance art, religion and politics, she skillfully links past and present to offer an understanding of the artist's timeless appeal."--BOOK JACKET.