De Viris Illustribus, meaning "concerning illustrious men", represents a genre of literature which evolved during the Italian Renaissance in imitation of the exemplary literature of Ancient Rome. It inspired the widespread commissioning of groups of matching portraits of famous men from history (Uomini Famosi) to serve as moral role models. With its inception in the circle of Cicero, various ancient works bear the titles De Viris Illustribus or De hominibus illustribus, including: