Italian city-states were often at war—with each other, against the Pope, or against foreign powers like France. Most dukes invested their money in military works like castles and fortifications rather than artistic works, using the humanist ideals of the Renaissance to gloss over their tyrannical rule. But as their sons learned these humanist ideals, they often applied them when they came to power. Not all of them, of course, survived long enough to see these dreams become reality.

Boy, the duke sure has bad luck! Was it really that dangerous for them? Dukes did live dangerously, but not all of them were killed or overthrown. The Allentown Art Museum doesn't have any examples of grand public art from an Italian city-state in its collection (they're awfully hard to move) and Italy wanted to keep them, so that's the end of the Duke's role!