Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

In 1504, three of history’s greatest artists were all in Florence at the same time – Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Few moments in history are more compelling. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he examines this magical moment in human history when the stars aligned in F...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Michelangelo’s statue of “David” has been described as the greatest sculpture of all time. Standing 17ft. 1in. tall, and weighing just over 5 tons, the sheer scale of the statue is breathtaking. Yet, there is much more to this sculpture than just its size. Join Dr. Rocky for t...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he explores the beautiful works of art from medieval Siena located in American museums. From the Met’s $45M “Madonna and Child” by Duccio, to the Gardner’s two masterpieces by Simone Martini, to the Kimbell’s and Frick’s rare predella pieces ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down the 10 greatest bronze sculptures of the Italian Renaissance. From Donatello and Ghiberti to Cellini and Giambologna, Renaissance masters created some of history’s greatest sculptures in bronze.

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar where he explores the masterpieces by the real Fab Four in London.

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Sicily truly does have something to offer to everyone. Whether it’s natural beauty, art and architecture, theater, opera, food, or wine, you will find it all at an exceptionally high level on this magical island. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down Sicily’s great...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Join Dr. Rocky as he explores the most popular saints of the Italian Renaissance and how they were depicted by the great artists!

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

While Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, Rome would produce some of the Renaissance’s greatest masterpieces. Join Dr. Rocky for this free webinar as he explores the extraordinary art, architecture, and history of these two cities and decides which of the two shoul...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down the most beautiful representations of the Annunciation theme in Italian Renaissance art. Artists such as Giotto, Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Tintoretto and Titian all represented the Annunciation and contributed ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

In 1507, Pope Julius II began growing a beard as a sign of mourning when French troops occupied the papal city of Bologna. Later, Pope Clement VII grew a beard to mourn the sack of Rome in 1527. His successor, Pope Paul III, just thought it looked good. And for the next two ce...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

While most people realize the Renaissance was a revival of ancient Greco-Roman culture, few realize how much Renaissance art was simply a rehashing of ancient works of art. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he examines the influence of ancient art on Renaissance masterpieces!

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

While most people appreciate Michelangelo's Sistine chapel ceiling for its beauty, the ceiling is also one of the most complex iconographic programs of the Renaissance. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he examines the complex symbolism and hidden meanings of the paintings of...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Rome was the birthplace of the Baroque, so it’s no surprise that the Eternal City is home to some of the world’s most outstanding Baroque creations. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down Rome’s 10 greatest Baroque monuments!

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

In 1525, the extraordinary Mannerist painter Jacopo Pontormo was commissioned to decorate the Capponi Chapel in Santa Felicita in Florence. Pontormo painted the dome and its surrounding pendentives, a side wall fresco of the “Annunciation” and an altarpiece whose beauty is bey...

The Death of a Republic: Machiavelli, the Medici, Savonarola, and Renaissance Florence
Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

While the Republic of Florence was able to overcome multiple constitutional crises in the 14th century, the 15th century saw the gradual demise of democracy. Whether it was the de facto rule...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Get ready for Halloween by joining Dr. Rocky as he celebrates those things “that went bump in the night” in the Italian Renaissance art. From Giotto to Botticelli to Leonardo to Michelangelo, discover the dark side of Renaissance genius!

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

While Donatello is best known for his sublime bronze “David” in the Bargello Museum, his greatest innovation was the development of a technique known as “rilievo schiacciato.” The great Renaissance biographer, Giorgio Vasari wrote, “ And in this genre too Donato [ie Donatello...

As tourist season kicks off into high gear, the streets, museums, and restaurants of Florence, Italy, will be filled to the breaking point. Fortunately, there are still many beautiful places in the city that social media has not discovered. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he explores the hidde...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

No other artist in history blurred the line between art and life more than Caravaggio. Was his art so shockingly realistic and violent because he was a sociopath, or do we think he was sociopath because of his art? Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down the top ten ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

In 1482, a 30-year-old Leonardo da Vinci was summoned to Milan by the city’s ruler Ludovico “the Moor” Sforza. While the primary reason was for Leonardo to realize a massive equestrian monument in honor of Ludovico’s father, Leonardo ended up producing many other masterpieces ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

American museums are home to some of Caravaggio greatest masterpieces. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he explores the paintings by Caravaggio located in museums throughout the US!

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Papal tombs became a means by which Renaissance popes could leave behind a visual testimony of their piety, power, and politics. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he surveys the greatest papal tombs of the Italian Renaissance!