Byzantine art had a significant impact on the Italian Renaissance and the evolution of the cultural boom of the early modern ages.

Churches hung with Renaissance art masterpieces. A canal view down every street. Gondolas weaving their way between ferries and transport barges. Sunset on the lagoon. Venice is everyone's dream city.

Boats moored in an "alley" in Venice, Italy. (Walt Girdner/CNS) ROME (AFP ... Toffolo subsequently found other images in later manuscripts and books that were "clearly based on the image in the ...