In today's culture of narcissism and celebrity it's an assumed expectation that faces can be put to names. Even in 16th Century Europe, the large majority of notable persons had a likeness made of themselves and displayed for posterity ? save for architects, it seems. Take, for instance, Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) ? the Renaissance style-setter and author of the groundbreaking treatise The Four Books on Architecture, the seminal text of which inspired the likes of Thomas Jefferson. If challenged, could you easily put a face to Palladio's name" There is no accurate, agreed-upon "official" portrait of the architect ? until now, that is.

Left: seemingly accurate portrait of Palladio purchased at an antiques store in New Jersey, USA. Right: seemingly accurate portrait of Palladio in a private collection in Moscow, Russia. Image via The New York Times / Palladio Museum
In today's culture of narcissism and celebrity it's an assumed expectation that faces can be put to names. Even in 16th Century Europe, the large majority of notable persons had a likeness made of themselves and displayed for posterity ? save for architects, it seems. Take, for instance, Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) ? the Renaissance style-setter and author of the groundbreaking treatise The Four Books on Architecture, the seminal text of which inspired the likes of Thomas Jefferson. If challenged, could you easily put a face to Palladio's name" There is no accurate, agree...