Ars-Amandi(the Art of loving), or initiation to the art of love and seduction, is a work in verse written in the 1st century by Ovid. It brings a new perspective on the couple and the role of the man in front of the woman, refocused in society. Throughout the Middle Ages, the art of seduction will be largely influenced by it.

In the twelfth century, this look will be reinforced by the influence of Arab civilization which brings us all the subtlety of an art of loving conveyed from the confines of Persia. Love becomes a poem, love becomes a song and theend of loveblossomed with the troubadours in the langue d'oc, then with the trouvères in the langue d'oïl: courtly love was to spread throughout the courts of Europe until the end of the 15th century.

Sublimated love is found at the heart of a poetic art where the Marian figure and the court lady come together in an awareness of idealized feminine values in society.

In the 14th century, Guillaume de Machaut in turn shaped this courtly love in an essential work: his literary and musical mastery gave birth to an authentic and radiant lyricism in European art.

In Italy, this poetic and musical enthusiasm conveyed by the troubadours will permeate the art of Boccaccio and Dante: avita new, a breath of fresh air took hold in the princely courts of the peninsula. Through a singular practice of courteous singing, thedolce style newflourished with the poetry of Petrarch and the music of Francesco Landini or Johannes Ciconia. This musical poetics ofArs Subtletyat the end of the 14th century will durably permeate all European musical creation of the following century, where rhythmic and polyphonic riches will henceforth nourish the musical poetics at the dawn of the Renaissance.