Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

From the worldwide media attention given to the theft and recovery of the “Mona Lisa” in 1911 and 1913 respectively, to the never-solved theft of Caravaggio’s “Nativity” in 1969 in Palermo, to the shocking theft of a Raphael and two Piero della Francesca paintings in 1975 from...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

The Italian Renaissance produced many of the world’s most beautiful depictions of women. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he explores the representation of female beauty in the works of Renaissance masters such as Giotto, Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, R...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

While a majority of Italy’s most famous museums are in Florence and Rome, northern Italy is also home to some of the world’s greatest art collections. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he explores the great museums northern Italy, which contain masterpieces by, amongst others...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, the Tuscan city of Siena transforms its central medieval square into an arena of unbridled fury. Ten bareback horses and their respective jockeys race three laps at breakneck speed around a dirt-covered piazza filled with fifty-thousand p...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Few legends are as remarkable as the legend of the “True Cross” - the alleged cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Derived from wood from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden, worshipped by the Queen of Sheba, preserved by King Solomon, and ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Alessandro Botticelli revolutionized the Italian art world with his introduction of mythological themes. And while his “Primavera” and iconic “Birth of Venus” are his best-known works, Botticelli produced many other mythological paintings. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar where...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar where he will examine the spectacular drawings and other works of art by Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael in the two concurrent exhibitions taking place in London in 2025. From the 160 works from the royal collection on display at the King’s ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Many of history’s most famous works of art were intended to decorate altars, hence the term “altarpiece.” Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down his TOP 10 altarpieces of the Italian Renaissance!

In 1495, Leonardo da Vinci was commissioned to paint a “Last Supper” on the north wall of a Dominican refectory in Milan. The result was a revolutionary painting that many claim was the first work of the High Renaissance. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar where he will explore and analyze Leonardo’...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Donatello, Brunelleschi, and Masaccio are the three artists are credited with first introducing what we today define as Renaissance art in their respective fields of sculpture, architecture, and painting. Yet, beyond their artistic prowess, these artists also shared an extraor...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

If you missed this extraordinary exhibition at the Met, or if you plan on seeing it at the National Gallery in London (3/8/25 – 6/22/25), or if you simply love Sienese painting, join Dr. Rocky for this pop-up webinar where he will explore the amazing masterpieces in the exhib...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Gian Lorenzo Bernini was one of the greatest artists of all time. His breathtaking statues such as the “Apollo and Daphne,” and “Ecstasy of St. Teresa,” as well as is dazzling architectural projects such as the “Baldacchino” and “St. Peter’s Square” continue to amaze visitors ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

In the first half of the 14th century, the city of Siena was Florence’s main political, economic and artistic rival. Artists such as Duccio, Simone Martini, and Ambrogio Lorenzetti were members of one of Europe’s most important school of painting. This video lecture will exami...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar where he will explore one of Italy’s most beautiful regions – Puglia. From the natural beauty of its countryside and coast, to the man-made beauty of its architecture, to the beauty of its artisanal and culinary traditions, Puglia is simply asto...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Most people think just about everything in Renaissance Florence was paid for by the Medici family. In reality, much of the city was already built when the Medici came into the picture. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar where he separates fact from fancy and examines the true rol...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Puglia has rapidly become one of Italy’s most popular destinations. Famous for its traditions, natural beauty, fabulous food and wine, Puglia has something to offer to just about everyone. Join Dr. Rocky as he counts down Puglia’s top ten attractions and discover for yourselv...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

During the Renaissance, the importance of an art collection was not based on the quality and quantity of contemporary works that a collector possessed, but was instead based on ancient works, or antiques. Of course, those contemporary works were by artists of the caliber of Do...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Many of the greatest paintings of the Italian Renaissance were created to decorate chapels by artists such as Giotto, Masaccio, Ghirlandaio, and Pontormo. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down the Top 10 Chapels of Renaissance Florence!

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

While Michelangelo’s statues are the most famous in Florence, there are many other later sculptural masterpieces that are by no means lesser in quality. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he goes beyond Michelangelo and explores the great sculptures in Florence produced by lat...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

Located in the southern Italian region of Puglia, Lecce is home to some of Italy’s most beautiful Baroque architecture. In fact, the city’s unique Baroque style is known as “Lecce Baroque,” and is present not only in its magnificent churches, but also in many of the buildings ...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

More than a decade before Raphael decorated the apartments of Pope Julius II, the Perugian painter Pinturicchio frescoed the apartments of Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) one floor below. Five of the six rooms were decorated in a complex iconographic scheme that in many way...

Dr. Rocky Ruggiero

A tondo is a round or circular painting. This format gained popularity during the Renaissance and celebrated artists such as Botticelli, Raphael and Michelangelo produced beautiful examples. Join Dr. Rocky for this webinar as he counts down the top 10 tondi of the Italian Rena...