Renaissance art

Renaissance literally translates to ‘rebirth’ in French and marks the period in human history where a transition was made from medieval times to modernity. Historically, it is believed to have lasted through the 15th and 16th centuries.

Stepping away from that myopic lens, it was also a period marked by exploration of nature, of the human self and a return to more classical teaching. This is greatly reflected in the art of the time, with many sculptors and painters paying homage to mother nature and many others studying the human anatomy to the finest degree.

As a movement, its origins lie in Florence, Italy, from where it spread to most of Europe through France, Spain, Germany and even the British Isles.

Famous Artists

Masaccio is often considered the founder of Renaissance painting. His compositions were often brought to life by his skill at portraying three-dimensionality through art, and he celebrated nature and human movement. 

Leonardo da Vinci is by many considered to be the greatest Renaissance artist and his contribution to the movement has been immense. He was a thinking man and apart from being a painter was also an engineer and architect.

Michelangelo was an Italian sculptor and painter of the high renaissance. His works have had a great influence over western art and his studies and sculptures have paved the way for many artists that followed him.

Patrons of Art

As is evident in a lot of the paintings, they derived from the Christian religion and it wasn’t uncommon for wealthy families to commission artists of the time to decorate palaces and churches. Perhaps the most famous of these families were the Medici who ruled most of Florence during the Renaissance. They were a wealthy merchant family, made rich thanks to the efforts of Cosimo, a papal banker. They had ties across Europe and the Vatican.

Another example is the house of Este, especially Isabella d’Este who was perhaps the greatest patron of the arts during the Renaissance. She had several artists working for her including Leonardo da Vinci and Giovanni Bellini. The Estes owed their wealth to legacy and longevity, having been a prominent family even during the feudal and medieval times.

Legacy

In history, the Renaissance is said to have ended with the fall of Rome in 1527. A rift between the Papacy and the humanist nature of Renaissance creations led to a whole new era in creativity. Certain artists such as Bellini continued in the style, but by and large, several artists strayed from the norm. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt Renaissance gave the world some of its most recognizable works of art.