3 ms·

Are we certain of this or is it popular speculation?

• trentgreene 4y ago
  I'm somewhat afraid to google for sources from a work machine, but the factoid that renaissance artists (amongst others) used prostitutes as models was circulated by lecturers in my art history classes. Could still be popular speculation.
  • Tao3300 4y ago
    Hmm. I'd only thought of "factoid" in the sense of the B definition: > a little-known bit of information; trivial but interesting data It hadn't occured to me until seeing it used here that it also suggests something resembling fact that isn't necessarily, which seems to be the original meaning.
    • trentgreene 4y ago
      FWIW, I did google it, and in Caravaggio's case we know some of the women's names who he used as models (and their occupation did seem to line up with what's suggested by the factoid).
• bombolo 4y ago
  historic certainty isn't the same as math certainty… they did find documents about this, but you need some amount of trust… unlike for theorems. Anyway I've recently read this: "Caravaggio segreto. I misteri nascosti nei suoi capolavori." Costantino D'Orazio. Which I bought at the Musei Capitolini in Roma.