Back in the 15th century, Albert Dürer visited Italy to study the human figure. He had to do that because people back home in Nuremberg were very prudish and he could never see them naked. This limited his study of human anatomy. Thus, it was necessary to go to Venice where he could see naked pictures (there was no Internet in the 15th century) and study the masters.

Dürer departed, but his friends cautioned him to never accept food or drink from the hands of the Italian painters. “They will try to poison you,” his friends said, “to eliminate the competition!”