Exemplum refers to something which works as a model either distinctive or representative of its own class. In the middle Ages, artistic ideas were passed from one region to another and from one generation to the next by recording the artwork in the form of drawings. This type of handmade reproduction of an artwork was known as exemplum in Latin. An Exemplum served as a model or a work of reference for the future generation. The term may also refer to a sketch which can be used to support a moral point or strengthen a particular argument.