Images, maps, and material objects that bring the Past to life.
Gold Florin
The gold florin, first coined in Florence in 1252, became the common currency of Europe. Dante called it "that damned flower," and many saw it as the root of all problems in Renaissance Italy.
Lorenzo de’ Medici
A 1459 fresco predicts what the young Lorenzo de’ Medici would look like as a young ruler––showing the ideal of beauty and power in the Renaissance.
The World, 1482
A Florentine artist depicted the known world in this way: most of the globe was blank, still to be discovered.
Map of Venice, 1500
Jacopo de’ Barbari created a detailed map of Venice in 1500––which required walking through the streets of the city and climbing towers to catch a birds-eye view.
View of Florence with a Chain
In the 1490s, Francesco Rosselli climbed a hill and drew a sketch of Florence. He went back to his print shop, created an engraving, and sold a majestic view of Florence.
Michelangelo's Delphic Sybil
Art defines the Renaissance, and Michelangelo was the master. His Delphic Sybil combines power, grace, and wariness in one figure.
The Birth of Venus
Sandro Botticelli painted enormous canvases for the Medici family. Until a religious fanatic named Savonarola convinced the artist to burn some of his paintings.