The increased proliferation of classical education throughout sixteenth-century Europe led to an increased appreciation for the remnants of the past. Scholars and wealthy connoisseurs started to uncover the remains of Roman, Greek and prehistoric societies and several books were written on the subject. These works form foundations for the modern field of archaeology, which gradually developed over the following centuries. This book by Jean-Jacques Boissard describes the antiquities of Rome. It contains many detailed illustrations of significant buildings, sculptures and inscriptions found in the city.