Renaissance Art History, Renaissance Artists, Renaissance Works
The Renaissance
The Renaissance movement began in Italy in the fourteenth century and is a term that means rebirth. The Renaissance was a time of revival of artistic achievement based on the Classical world. With regards to literature, the Renaissance writers moved away from the religion oriented Middle Ages to subjects based on individual man in society. Fine art also changed in that individual expression and worldly experience became the two main themes of the era. The Renaissance period was triggered by increasing sophistication of society, where economic growth, educational pursuits, and political stability were key factors. With more libraries and academies springing up, people began to more thoroughly research the culture of the antique world. The Renaissance also brought with it wealthy patrons such as the Medic family of Florence, the Sforza family of Milan, and Pope Leo X and Pope Julius II. These patrons helped to push the limits of the Renaissance period in order to create works of unsurpassable beauty and detail. Leonardo da Vinci represented the essence of the Renaissance alongside Michelangelo and Rapheal. These artists created works that were long considered to be the classical notion of perfection. Famous Renaissance architects include Alberti, Bramante and Brunelleschi. Other famous Renaissance painters include Buonarroti, Botticelli and Titian.
