Beginnings: a biography of Piero di Lorenzo Ubaldini -- Between reality and Fantasia: Piero's portrait types -- The fabulist smiles: Piero as storyteller in his mythological fantasies -- Of man and chimeras: a return to the primitive -- Diversifications: continuity and innovation in the early religious works (1480-1500 and 1500-1510) -- Final transformations: the late altarpieces (1510-1522) -- A willow among tall oaks: Piero's artistic legacy reconsidered -- Appendices -- Documents pertaining to Piero di Cosimo -- Chronology of secure dates for Piero di Cosimo -- Topographical list of Piero di Cosimo's paintings -- Attributed works -- The problem portraits -- Lost or unidentified works.

Inverting rules with obvious relish, Florentine artist Piero di Cosimo (1462-1522) is known for his highly personal visual language. This book presents an account of Piero's life and career. It also sheds light on the social, literary, and artistic traditions that stimulated a demand for his novel work.