Michelangelo Reads his Poetry in the House of Aldovrandi

This academic costume scene illustrates a moment of history revisited: the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo, who was also an exquisite author of sonnets, reads aloud one of his poems among a circle of friends. A student of the Florence Academy, Vinea specialized in such interior scenes and gallant conversation pieces, and was critical of the more progressive Macchiaioli artists, who showed strong interest in realistic scenes of everyday life.