Renaissance thinkers and artists looked for their inspiration in the classical civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. Unsurprisingly, this cultural and intellectual revival (or “rebirth,” which is the literal meaning of the period’s name) started in Italy to bring back some of the norms and values of classical learning. In the visual arts, the Renaissance meant a return to the aesthetics of classical antiquity, producing such iconic masterpieces as Michelangelo’s David. So where exactly did the Renaissance masters find the classical models to imitate? Currently on display in Rome, the exhibit titled Raphael and the Domus Aurea: The Invention […]
