Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Sistine Frescoes

In 1540 Antonio Lafreri, a native of Besançon transplanted to Rome, began publishing maps and other printed images that depicted major monuments and antiquities in Rome. These images were produced to appeal to the taste for classical antiquity that fueled the Renaissance. After Lafreri published a title page in the mid-1570s, collections of these prints came to be known as the Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae, the "Mirror of Roman Magnificence." Tourists and other collectors who bought prints from Lafreri made their own selections and had them individually bound. Over time, Lafreri's title page served as starting point for large and eclectic compilations, expanded and rearranged by generations of collectors.

Francesco Primaticcio was an Italian painter, sculptor and architect who worked at the court of King Francis I of France during the Renaissance. He was born in Bologna, Italy in 1504 and trained under Giulio Romano in Mantua. In 1532 he was invited to work at the royal palace of Fontainebleau, where he remained for the rest of his career. Primaticcio played a crucial role in the development of the French Renaissance style, which blended Italian and French artistic traditions. He worked on many important projects at Fontainebleau, including the decoration of the Gallery of Francis I with frescoes depicting scenes from classical mythology and the Bible. Primaticcio also designed and executed numerous sculptures and reliefs for the Royal Palace, including the famous Caryatids that adorn the entrance to the Chapel of Anne de Montmorency. He was also responsible for the design of several rooms in the palace, including the Ballroom and the Oval Room. In addition to his work at Fontainebleau, Primaticcio also worked as a painter and sculptor in other parts of France. He created altarpieces for churches in Paris and Lyon and designed tombs for members of the French nobility. Primaticcio died in Paris in 1570, leaving a legacy as one of the most important artists of the French Renaissance. His work at Fontainebleau helped to establish a new style that would influence French art for centuries to come.