What happens in the aftermath of the Battle of Fornovo?

The author describes the humiliation of Italy in the Battle of Fornovo and the aftermath in which Italy's virtues and assets are laid bare and ripe for the picking by other European armies. After this very public humiliation on the world stage, Italy reverts to its protective cover of illusion or tompe-l'oeil, an artistic technique crafted to trick the eye. This leads to the spectacle of the Baroque period, a time of magnificent artistic creativity beginning in 17th century Italy.≈