Venus Shooting an Arrow Through an Opening of the Tower: detail, from Le Roman de la Rose

Manuscript, French, 15C; tempera, gold leaf, and ink on parchment bound between pasteboard

Whitehall Ceiling: The Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland

Peter Paul Rubens; 25 ft.x 17 ft. 11 23/64 in.; oil on canvas

Wedding Diptych of the Nicmachi and the Symmachi, a Pagan Priestess Priestess at an Altar

Ivory, Early Christian, 4C; 11-3/4 x 4-3/4 in; ivory

Tower of Babel: clouds obscure a portion of the tower and scaffolding

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; oil on panel

Tower of Babel: construction of the right side with workmen using treadwheels

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; oil on panel

Carrying of the Cross: Christ and surrounding figures

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; oil on panel

Carrying of the Cross: thief in front of the cart and onlookers

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; oil on panel

Return of the Herd: houses at upper left

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; oil on wood

Bahram Gur and the Indian Princess in the Dark Palace on Saturday", Folio 23v from a Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizam

Manuscript, Islamic, Timurid; 8 1/2 in.x 4 39/64 in. (image); ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Tomb, excavated artifact, Rabbits, Birds, Bamboo and Flowers, center portion: birds and flowers; from the western interior wall of the outer (xiaozhang) coffin

Liaoning. Faku. Yemaotai; hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk

Parable of the Blind: detail of center figure

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; tempera on canvas

Parable of the Blind: man falling into ditch

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; tempera on canvas

The Virgin Mary with Saints Thomas Aquinas and Paul: detail of the Virgin Mary

Bernardo Daddi; tempera and gold leaf on panel

The Adoration of the Magi

Giotto di Bondone; 1 ft. 5 3/4 in. x 1 ft. 5 1/4 in.; one of a series of six panels, tempera and gold leaf on panel

Carrying of the Cross

Pieter Bruegel the Elder; 4 ft. 13/16 in. x 5 ft. 6 59/64 in.; oil on oak