Parody and festivity in early modern art

"Dwelling on the rich interconnections between parody and festivity in humanist thought and popular culture alike, the essays in this volume delve into the nature and the meanings of festive laughter as it was conceived of in early modern art. The concept of 'carnival' supplies the main thread connecting these essays....Though the chapters most often deal with Northern Renaissance and Baroque art, they spill over into other countries, times, and cultures...."--P. [i].