Travelling artists and patrons shaped the artistic landscape of many cities, towns and regions of Europe through the commission of an array of works, both sacred and secular. This exchange can be observed in literature and music, but it assumes particular visibility in architecture and the fine arts. In part, the essence of the Baroque period stems from artists who travelled across borders to study with a particular school or artist, work for a patron or begin a new commission. Travelling to the Italian Peninsula, and especially to Rome, was an important experience for artists who, throughout Europe, made direct or indirect references to Italian painting. This network created an unfurling of specific subjects, techniques and artistic languages.