1. Renaissance period
Known as the Renaissance, the period immediately following the Middle Ages in Europe saw a great
revival of interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome. Against a backdrop of
political stability and growing prosperity, the development of new technologies–including the printing
press, a new system of astronomy and the discovery and exploration of new continents–was
accompanied by a flowering of philosophy, literature and especially art. The style of painting, sculpture
and decorative arts identified with the Renaissance emerged in Italy in the late 14th century; it reached its
zenith in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, in the work of Italian masters such as Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo and Raphael. In addition to its expression of classical Greco-Roman traditions,
Renaissance art sought to capture the experience of the individual and the beauty and mystery of the
natural world.
ORIGINS OF RENAISSANCE ART
The origins of Renaissance art can be traced to Italy in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. During this
so-called “proto-Renaissance” period (1280-1400), Italian scholars and artists saw themselves as
reawakening to the ideals and achievements of classical Roman culture. Writers such as Petrarch (1304-
1374) and Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) looked back to ancient Greece and Rome and sought to
revive the languages, values and intellectual traditions of those cultures after the long period of stagnation
that had followed the fall of the Roman Empire in the sixth century.
Renaissance art is the painting, sculpture and decorative arts of that period of European history
known as the Renaissance, emerging as a distinct style in Italy in about 1400, in parallel with
developments which occurred in philosophy, literature, music and science. Renaissance art,
perceived as a royalty of ancient traditions, took as its foundation the art of Classical antiquity, but
transformed that tradition by the absorption of recent developments in the art of Northern Europe
and by application of contemporary scientific knowledge. Renaissance art, with Renaissance
Humanist philosophy, spread throughout Europe, affecting both artists and their patrons with the
development of new techniques and new artistic sensibilities. Renaissance art marks the transition
of Europe from the medieval period to the Early modern age.
In many parts of Europe, Early Renaissance art was created in parallel with Late Medieval art.
The Baroque is often thought of as a period of artistic style that used exaggerated motion and clear,
easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting,
architecture, literature, dance, and music. The style began around 1600 in Rome, Italy and spread to
most of Europe.[1]
The popularity and success of the Baroque style was encouraged by the Catholic Church, which had
decided at the time of theCouncil of Trent, in response to the Protestant Reformation, that the arts
should communicate religious themes in direct and emotional involvement.[2]
The aristocracy also

2. saw the dramatic style of Baroque architecture and art as a means of impressing visitors and
expressing triumph, power and control. Baroque palaces are built around an entrance of courts,
grand staircases and reception rooms of sequentially increasing opulence. However, 'baroque' has
resonance and application that extend beyond a simple reduction to either style or period.[3]
This a list of Renaissance artists begins in the 13th century (1200s) and includes famous painters
and sculptors.
Each artist is listed with their dates, place of birth, some places that they worked, their media (the
type of artwork that they made), one or two most famous works and some art galleries where their
works can be seen.
The Renaissance was a period of great creative and intellectual activity, during which artists broke away
from the restrictions of Byzantine Art. Throughout the 15th century, artists studied the natural world in
order to perfect their understanding of such subjects as anatomy and perspective.
Among the many great artists of this period were Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Paolo
Uccello and Piero della Francesca.
During this period there was a related advancement of Gothic Art centered in Germany and the
Netherlands, known as the Northern Renaissance.
The Early Renaissance was succeeded by the mature High Renaissance period, which began circa 1500.
Famous Renaissance Artists List
Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519)
Widely considered to be the most famous of all the Renaissance artists, Leonardo da Vinci was
an Italian painter, mathematician, engineer, inventor, sculptor, musician, writer, anatomist, and
scientist, who is renowned all over the world for his intellectual genius. He was curious about
everything and he was highly skilled at designing and making all kinds of things, but he is most
famous as a painter. Some of his best known artworks include "The Mona Lisa," "The Last
Supper," "The Vitruvian Man," and "Virgin of the Rocks."
Michelangelo (1475 - 1564)
Michelangelo is another Italian Renaissance artist who was a painter, sculptor, architect, poet,
and engineer. He lived a very busy life and created a large number of artistic works in his
lifetime under the employment of Italy's powerful elite, including the Medici family of Florence
and Pope Julius II of Rome. His most well known works include the marble sculptures of the
Pieta and David, the frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, "The Last Judgment," and the
architecture of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica. He is also credited with popularizing
Mannerism, a style of art in which figures are elongated and distorted in order to make them look
more elegant and emotional. Michelangelo wrote many letters, poems, and journals, and a great
deal of what is known about his life comes from these texts.
Raphael (1483 - 1520)
Along with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, Raphael is considered as one of the greatest
painters of the Renaissance period. He was born in the small Italian town of Urbino, where he

3. trained as an apprentice at the workshop of the painter Pietro Perugino. He first rose to fame in
Florence, when he was commissioned to draw his famous Madonna paintings. His fame spread
and he was eventually called to Rome by Pope Julius II in 1508. Under the pope's patronage,
Raphael created some of his finest works, including the four frescoes in the Vatican Palace's
Stanze rooms, now known as the Raphael Rooms. His masterpiece, "The School of Athens," is
one of the four frescoes.
Donatello (1386 -1466)
Donatello was an early Renaissance artist who lived in Florence, where he became famous for
his life-like sculptures. He used a special technique called shallow relief, which made all of his
sculptures look very real. He also had a distinct Gothic style that inspired and influenced several
sculptors of the Renaissance. Donatello mainly worked with bronze and marble. His most
famous artworks include the life size statue of David and the statue of Mary Magdalene.
Sandro Botticelli (1445 - 1510)
Sandro Botticelli was an early Renaissance Florentine painter who worked under the patronage
of Florence's ruler of his time, Lorenzo de' Medici. His most famous work is "The Birth of
Venus," a painting that can still be viewed at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Botticelli is also one
of the artists who were summoned by Pope Sixtus IV to fresco the walls of the newly renovated
Sistine Chapel. His contribution to the Sistine Chapel walls is not as revered as Michelangelo's,
but it is considered as one of his finest works.
The Renaissance period was a very important time in European history. The technology, art,
literature, music, and philosophy from this period paved way to the Early Modern Age, and
eventually the Industrial Revolution. The above Renaissance artist list is not complete; there are
dozens of other artists who are noteworthy for their contributions, but the mentioned artists are
some of the most famous from that time and their influence spread all over Europe. Today, their
artistic works and legacies can still be appreciated in various museums and galleries all over the
world.
Famous Baroque Artwork
List of famous Baroque artwork, listed alphabetically with photos when available. The Baroque
movement was an awakening in the world of art, producing new types of paintings and sculptures
that the world had never seen before. This is a list of the most popular Baroque art pieces, so art
enthusiasts will likely recognize the names of the famous artists who created these pieces. These
renowned pieces of Baroque artwork are showcased in museums all over the world, so if you can't
afford an expensive vacation then this list is a great substitute for seeing fine Baroque art.
Famous Artists
Historically,artists become famous either for their unique style or the character they exudetothe world of art .
Beginning with theRenaissance Era,art was transformed,it elevated the value of art andproduced a respect it from
society that was not there in the past. Art masters became known everywhere,their workwerestudied during and
bey ond their lifetime.Following theRenaissance,innovations and varying school’s of thought took place and artists
and their work distinguished themselves from every era ever since. For the best paintings of all time,view the most
famous paintings.