FLORIDA ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ACADEMY 2026 
“The Rat Pack of the Renaissance: Donatello, Brunelleschi, and Masaccio”

Date: February 20, 2026
Time: 11:00am  - 3:15pm
Location: Arturo’s Restaurant, 6750 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton, FL 33487
Cost: $395.00
Includes: All in-person lectures with Dr. Rocky, morning coffee and biscotti, and group lunch at Arturo’s

Program Description:

Few moments in history have witnessed the extraordinary artistic production that occurred in Florence, Italy, in the first half of the 15th century. Often celebrated as “the cradle of the Renaissance,” Florence was indeed the place where artists first began to revive the culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Three of those artists are credited with first introducing what we today define as Renaissance art in their respective fields – Donatello in sculpture, Brunelleschi in architecture, and Masaccio in painting. Yet, beyond their artistic prowess, these artists also shared an extraordinary friendship, which often involved artistic collaboration, but also practical jokes, humorous situations, and rivalry with contemporary artists. The relationship between Donatello, Brunelleschi, and Masaccio represents one of those rare moments of artistic altruism in the history of art. Instead of competing with each other – e.g., Leonardo vs. Michelangelo or Bernini vs. Borromini – the threesome that I like to call the “Ratpack of the Renaissance” would freely share their knowledge, vision, and inspiration with each other and change the course of history.

Schedule:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026:

- Session 1 - 11am-12:30pm – “The Treasure Hunters”

According to Brunelleschi’s earliest biographer, after Brunelleschi’s dramatic loss to Lorenzo Ghiberti in the 1401 competition for the Florence Baptistry doors, he and Donatello traveled to Rome. They would spend their days walking around the “Eternal City” with shovels thrown over their shoulders in search of ancient sculptures and buildings. This unusual behavior led the locals to call the tandem the “treasure hunters.” But the treasures that they were seeking would ultimately inspire the artists in respectively invent what today we define as Renaissance architecture and sculpture. This lecture will explore the relationship between Brunelleschi and Donatello’s art and architecture and the classical world.

- Lunch break – 12:30-2pm (Group lunch at Arturo’s)

- Session 2:00-3:15pm – “And then there were three”

The abundance of ancient statuary and architecture that survived into the late medieval world explains why they were the first artistic disciplines to enjoy a Renaissance. Painting, instead, was a problem. The most significant corpus of ancient Greco-Roman painting in the world today is located in Pompeii, where excavations began 200 years after the Italian Renaissance. In other words, the Renaissance painter had no idea what ancient painting looked like. But one painter realized that if he combined the innovations introduced into sculpture by Donatello and into architecture by Brunelleschi, he could invent a Renaissance painting style. That painter’s name was Masaccio, and his voluminous forms, sculptural drapery and emotional expressivity became the foundation for future generations of Renaissance artists. The young Masaccio was taken under the artistic wings of Donatello and Brunelleschi, and while his artistic production was limited – he died prematurely at age 27 – it was nothing less than revolutionary!

Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Payment in full is required at the time of registration and all sales are final. No refunds are offered on events, nor is payment transferrable to other events, on-line products and/or travel programs. We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel a class or event due to unforeseen circumstances, inclement weather, or otherwise. In the event of an event cancellation, we will contact you directly at the phone number or email address you have provided to offer a full refund or credit to transfer to a future event. Late Arrivals and No Shows will not be eligible for a refund.