In a small German town, unnoticed by the world, a solitary boy grows up, of whom no one suspects that he will one day become the most significant art connoisseur of his time. Soon, however, it becomes clear that this serious boy not only knows how to dream of antiquity but also has the ability to grasp the meaning and impact of its artworks like no one else and to express them in fiery words. "Flaming Life" traces the winding paths of a man who discovers early on that art is life and can be brought to life from dusty books. He fights his way free from the cramped conditions of his hometown, sets out for studies, and ultimately finds the ideal of noble simplicity and quiet grandeur realized in the Eternal City of Rome. Yet, at the height of his fame, the founder of archaeology...