"Under the aegis of discerning patrons such as François I, Henri II, and Catherine de' Medici, France developed a rich artistic vocabulary dominated by elongated figures, inventive decorative motifs, and intriguing subject matter. The frequently ephemeral nature of artistic production during this period, along with losses engendered by time and events like the French Revolution, has meant that this is a period still flush with rewarding investigative possibilities. The volume's contributors explore different aspects of the extant material record and how it was shaped, at times by radical changes in the social and political climate, focusing particularly on works of art in American collections, thus helping to widen the scope of research carried out in France. Several authors provide exciting new attributions, bringing greater understanding to the careers of artists such as Baptiste Pellerin and the two Cousin, père et fils. The enduring appeal of French Renaissance aesthetics is also explored here, attesting to the visual vibrancy of this distinctive period in France's history."--.