The Renaissance began in Italy, specifically northern Italian city-states like Florence, for several reasons: wealth from trade, powerful merchant class, and classical Greek/Roman heritage. Florence dominated the Italian Renaissance, with the Medici family as prominent patrons of the arts under figures like Cosimo and Lorenzo de' Medici. The Renaissance saw a rebirth of interest in classical works and humanism that focused on human potential and reason over religious tradition. This led to developments in realism and perspective in artistic works by figures like Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael.

1. Italy: Birthplace of the Renaissance Created by Daniel Ewert, used with his permission

2. ‘ Renaissance’ means rebirth and refers to the period of about 1300-1600 that was a new period of learning and creativity in Europe.

5. It was primarily the northern Italian city-states that dominated the Italian Renaissance. The central and southern cities remained backwards.

6. Florence is the city-state in which the Renaissance was most prominent.

23. You also start to see the use of light and shade ( chiaroscuro ) and blurring outlines so it seems that tones imperceptibly meld in to each other (thereby creating volume: this is sfumato ).

24. Carvaggio’s Crucifixion of St. Peter . An example of Chiaroscuro.

27. Close-up of Mona Lisa’s face. Notice the sfumato blurring, especially around the eyes, and how it creates a 3D illusion.

28. Sofonisba Anguissola -first woman artist to gain an international reputation. “ Self-Portrait”

29. Artemesia Gentileschi -trained with her father and helped with his work-painted pictures of strong heroic women. “ Judith Slaying Holofernes”