The 16th century saw the creation of the artist-celebrity for the first time in history. Through their prodigious skill and innovation, artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael were able to achieve an unprecedented level of fame which freed them to an extent from the pressures of patronal control. These artists are among the first to be subject to biographies within their own lifetime, and Michelangelo seized the opportunity to create a mythology around his genius.

This week, we foreground these artists’ most well-known works, questioning how far the artists’ claims about their own genius hold true. We also explore how the nature of their innovation addressed issues surrounding questions of physical beauty and sexuality.