Terra-cotta, or "baked earth," was originally used in architecture during the height of the Roman Empire. During the Renaissance, however, terra-cotta became a much more artistic medium. Many sculptors, for example, often used it to make bozzetti, or "rough drafts" of sculptures that would later be carved from stone or cast in bronze. Oddly enough, these bozzetti were often viewed as more interesting than the finished works, as art enthusiasts began collecting terra-cotta models for exhibition in their homes and in galleries. Collectors believed the models represented an artist's talent far more accurately. As a result, many of these "rough drafts" often commanded higher selling prices than the stone or bronze pieces on which they were based. It can be inferred from the passage that terra-cotta was