What is the Renaissance?
The Renaissance is a period of rebirth in Europe beginning in the early 15th century. It is
characterized by a rediscovery of Greek and Roman classical ideals. Science, art, literature,
religion, philosophy, and medicine all saw study and advancements influenced by classical
learning. Classicism, as Marilyn Stokstad writes, is inspired by the Greeks and Romans through
their art, literature, and history, and is the effort to produce art, literature, or architecture in these
ancient styles. There are three general concepts that characterize classic ideals: humanism-an
ideal based on the human form; rationalism-reason over emotion; and idealism-portraying nature
in the universal ideal rather than actual detail. Though all of these are important aspects of the
classical ideals seen in Renaissance art (Stokstad 128), humanism is the one that will be focused
on in each section of this website.
The word "renaissance" literally means "rebirth." Coming out of the Dark Ages, Europe
would develop new technology, new philosophy, and new theories. In addition, Europeans
learned of new continents. The middle class was rising in wealth and status, and some prominent
families, such as the Medici, became economic rulers of their Italian city-states through banking
and commerce. Noble lineage was slowly being replaced by economic power backed by
mercenary armies instead of the feudal allegiance of medieval knights. Patronage of the arts was
a tool of the merchant class to show their newly acquired status (Stokstad 620). Many areas other
than art hosted breakthroughs, discoveries, and innovative new ideas that would change Europe
over the course of the Renaissance. Information on some of those areas can be viewed at Beyond
Art. The Renaissance was divided into two main geographical areas; Italian and Northern. Italian
Renaissance The Italian Renaissance (1400-1600) centers on the Italian city-states, especially
Venice and Florence, and was influenced by wealthy middle class families like the Medici. Art
, flourished with new methods and techniques. The Italian Renaissance produced some of the most
famous painters and sculptors we recognize today, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli,
Raphael, Titan, Pignoni, and Puligo are some famous names, to mention a few.
Northern Renaissance Independently of the Italians, the countries of Northern Europe,
most notably Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, and Poland experienced their own
cultural rebirth by revisiting the classical traditions, but even more importantly, nature. The
Northern Renaissance (c. 1400-1600) is notable for the use of oil paint and the first true
landscapes. The Northern Renaissance produced artists such as Jan Van Eyck, Bosch, Holbein,
DOrer, and Aertsen. Artists of the German Renaissance used techniques such as prints,
woodcuts, and engravings as outlets of artistic expression as well (Carol Strickland and John
Boswell 42).
These two paintings are similar in terms of subject and pose, as well as their excellent
portrayals of humanism in Renaissance portraits. The identities of both the women portrayed
above are unknown to us, but each has a distinct personality that is characteristic of the
Renaissance and of humanism. The young woman in Domenico Puligo' s painting is clearly deep
in thought, contemplating some unknown issue while da Vinci's Mona Lisa stares straight at the
viewer with a secretive smile that that has intrigued historians and art lovers for centuries. The
focus of most art, literature, politics, religion, and science during the Renaissance shifted from
God to man. Along with the rediscovery of Greek and Roman classical ideals through classic art
and literature was the rediscovery of man as an important figure beside whom all else was
measured. This focus on man and his abilities through classical influence became known as
humanism. Humanism of the Renaissance, born out of the Italian city-states in the late 14th
century, influenced men to look at Rome and Greece not as golden ages long past, but as
The Renaissance is a period of rebirth in Europe beginning in the early 15th century. It is
characterized by a rediscovery of Greek and Roman classical ideals. Science, art, literature,
religion, philosophy, and medicine all saw study and advancements influenced by classical
learning. Classicism, as Marilyn Stokstad writes, is inspired by the Greeks and Romans through
their art, literature, and history, and is the effort to produce art, literature, or architecture in these
ancient styles. There are three general concepts that characterize classic ideals: humanism-an
ideal based on the human form; rationalism-reason over emotion; and idealism-portraying nature
in the universal ideal rather than actual detail. Though all of these are important aspects of the
classical ideals seen in Renaissance art (Stokstad 128), humanism is the one that will be focused
on in each section of this website.
The word "renaissance" literally means "rebirth." Coming out of the Dark Ages, Europe
would develop new technology, new philosophy, and new theories. In addition, Europeans
learned of new continents. The middle class was rising in wealth and status, and some prominent
families, such as the Medici, became economic rulers of their Italian city-states through banking
and commerce. Noble lineage was slowly being replaced by economic power backed by
mercenary armies instead of the feudal allegiance of medieval knights. Patronage of the arts was
a tool of the merchant class to show their newly acquired status (Stokstad 620). Many areas other
than art hosted breakthroughs, discoveries, and innovative new ideas that would change Europe
over the course of the Renaissance. Information on some of those areas can be viewed at Beyond
Art. The Renaissance was divided into two main geographical areas; Italian and Northern. Italian
Renaissance The Italian Renaissance (1400-1600) centers on the Italian city-states, especially
Venice and Florence, and was influenced by wealthy middle class families like the Medici. Art
, flourished with new methods and techniques. The Italian Renaissance produced some of the most
famous painters and sculptors we recognize today, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli,
Raphael, Titan, Pignoni, and Puligo are some famous names, to mention a few.
Northern Renaissance Independently of the Italians, the countries of Northern Europe,
most notably Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, and Poland experienced their own
cultural rebirth by revisiting the classical traditions, but even more importantly, nature. The
Northern Renaissance (c. 1400-1600) is notable for the use of oil paint and the first true
landscapes. The Northern Renaissance produced artists such as Jan Van Eyck, Bosch, Holbein,
DOrer, and Aertsen. Artists of the German Renaissance used techniques such as prints,
woodcuts, and engravings as outlets of artistic expression as well (Carol Strickland and John
Boswell 42).
These two paintings are similar in terms of subject and pose, as well as their excellent
portrayals of humanism in Renaissance portraits. The identities of both the women portrayed
above are unknown to us, but each has a distinct personality that is characteristic of the
Renaissance and of humanism. The young woman in Domenico Puligo' s painting is clearly deep
in thought, contemplating some unknown issue while da Vinci's Mona Lisa stares straight at the
viewer with a secretive smile that that has intrigued historians and art lovers for centuries. The
focus of most art, literature, politics, religion, and science during the Renaissance shifted from
God to man. Along with the rediscovery of Greek and Roman classical ideals through classic art
and literature was the rediscovery of man as an important figure beside whom all else was
measured. This focus on man and his abilities through classical influence became known as
humanism. Humanism of the Renaissance, born out of the Italian city-states in the late 14th
century, influenced men to look at Rome and Greece not as golden ages long past, but as
