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Renaissance art facts for kids

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See also: List of Renaissance artists
Piero della Francesca - Baptism of Christ - WGA17595
Piero della Francesca, The Baptism of Christ, c. 1450, National Gallery, London.
Jean Fouquet
Jean Fouquet, self-portrait (1450). The earliest portrait miniature, and possibly the earliest formal self-portrait.
El Descendimiento, by Rogier van der Weyden, from Prado in Google Earth
Rogier van der Weyden, The Descent from the Cross (c. 1435), oil on oak panel, 220 cm × 262 cm (87 in × 103 in). Museo del Prado, Madrid.
Hey Moulins Triptych
Jean Hey, The Moulins Triptych, c. 1498, oil on panel, Moulins Cathedral
Creación de Adám
Michelangelo, The Creation of Adam, c. 1511, from the Sistine Chapel ceiling
Magnificatio
Sandro Botticelli, Magnificat Madonna, 1480–1481, tempera on panel, Uffizi, Florence.

Renaissance art is the painting, sculpture, and decorative arts of the period of European history known as the Renaissance. Many of the most famous and best-loved works of art in the world were created during this time. The Renaissance began about 1400 and lasted until about 1600. Italy, and in particular the city of Florence is thought of as the home of Renaissance art.

What is the Renaissance?

The word "Renaissance" comes from a French word meaning "rebirth." And that's exactly what it was! After a long period called the Middle Ages (roughly 500-1400 AD), Europe experienced a huge blossoming of art, science, and learning. It started in Italy around the 14th century (the 1300s) and spread across Europe over the next few centuries. Think of it like waking up from a long nap and suddenly having tons of new ideas and energy!

Why Italy?

Italy played a huge role because it had a few key advantages:

  • Ancient Roman ruins: Italy was the heart of the Roman Empire, and many beautiful buildings and sculptures were still around. Artists could study these masterpieces and learn from them.
  • Wealthy city-states: Instead of one big kingdom ruling all of Italy, there were many independent city-states like Florence, Venice, and Rome. These city-states were incredibly wealthy from trade and banking, and this wealth allowed them to fund magnificent art projects.
  • Patronage: Very important people, called patrons, supported artists. These patrons could be wealthy families like the Medici family in Florence, or even the Pope in Rome. They commissioned (ordered) works of art, giving artists jobs and the resources they needed.

Key features of Renaissance art

Renaissance art is famous for several key features:

  • Realism: Unlike art from the Middle Ages, which was often symbolic and didn't always look like real life, Renaissance artists aimed for incredible realism. They studied human anatomy, perspective, and light to make their paintings and sculptures look incredibly lifelike.
  • Perspective: Renaissance artists mastered perspective, which is a way of showing depth and distance on a flat surface. It makes paintings look three-dimensional. This technique was a huge breakthrough.
  • Humanism: This philosophy focused on human potential and achievements. Renaissance art often celebrated human beauty, intelligence, and emotion. Instead of focusing only on religious subjects, artists also painted portraits, landscapes, and scenes from mythology.
  • Classical influences: Artists looked back to ancient Greek art and Roman art and architecture for inspiration. They admired the beauty and balance of classical art and incorporated those styles into their own work.

Famous Renaissance artists and their works

  • Michelangelo (1475-1564): Michelangelo was a master sculptor, painter, architect, and poet. His masterpiece is the David, a breathtakingly lifelike statue of the biblical hero. He also painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, a massive fresco (a painting done on wet plaster) depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis. This took him years to complete, and it’s one of the most iconic works of art ever made.
  • Raphael (1483-1520): Raphael is known for his beautiful and harmonious paintings. His School of Athens, a fresco depicting famous philosophers, is a classic example of Renaissance perspective and balance. He also painted many stunning Madonnas (paintings of Mary, the mother of Jesus).

Stages of the Renaissance

The Renaissance wasn't just one thing; it evolved over time:

  • Early Renaissance (roughly 1400-1490): Artists began to break away from the Medieval style, focusing on realism and rediscovering classical techniques. Think of it like the first steps towards a new way of art. Important artists of this period include Giotto, Masaccio, and Donatello.
  • High Renaissance (roughly 1490-1527): This is when Renaissance art reached its peak. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael were working at this time, creating masterpieces that are still celebrated today. Think of it like the golden age of Renaissance art, with all the best artists at their peak.
  • Late Renaissance/Mannerism (roughly 1520-1600): Artists began to experiment with new styles, moving away from the strict realism of the High Renaissance. Mannerism is characterized by elongated figures, unusual perspectives, and a more emotional and dramatic style. Think of it like a cool and experimental phase of art. Artists like Titian, El Greco, and Tintoretto were influential during this period.

Beyond Italy

The Renaissance wasn't just confined to Italy. It spread to other parts of Europe, leading to distinct regional styles. Artists in northern Europe, such as in Flanders (present-day Belgium and Netherlands), Germany, and France, also embraced Renaissance ideas, but their style often differed from the Italian Renaissance. They were known for their detailed depictions of nature and everyday life and the use of oil paints which allowed for richer colors and greater detail. Famous artists include Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer, and Hieronymus Bosch.

Techniques

  • The use of proportion – The first major treatment of the painting as a window into space appeared in the work of Giotto di Bondone, at the beginning of the 14th century. True linear perspective was formalized later, by Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti. In addition to giving a more realistic presentation of art, it moved Renaissance painters into composing more paintings.
  • Foreshortening – The term foreshortening refers to the artistic effect of shortening lines in a drawing so as to create an illusion of depth.
  • Sfumato – The term sfumato was coined by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci and refers to a fine art painting technique of blurring or softening of sharp outlines by subtle and gradual blending of one tone into another through the use of thin glazes to give the illusion of depth or three-dimensionality. This stems from the Italian word sfumare meaning to evaporate or to fade out. The Latin origin is fumare, to smoke.
  • Chiaroscuro – The term chiaroscuro refers to the fine art painting modeling effect of using a strong contrast between light and dark to give the illusion of depth or three-dimensionality. This comes from the Italian words meaning light (chiaro) and dark (scuro), a technique which came into wide use in the Baroque period.

List of Renaissance artists

Italy

Main article: Italian Renaissance painting

Low Countries

Main articles: Early Netherlandish painting and Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting

Germany

France

  • Jean de Beaumetz (c. 1335 – 1396)
  • Colart de Laon (c. 1355 – 1417)
  • Enguerrand Quarton (c. 1410 – c. 1466)
  • Henri Bellechose (fl. before 1415 – before 1445)
  • Barthélemy d'Eyck (c. 1420 – after 1470)
  • Jean Fouquet (1420 – 1481)
  • André d'Ypres [fr] (before 1425 – 1450)
  • Simon Marmion (c. 1425 – 1489)
  • Nicolas Froment (c. 1435 – c. 1486)
  • Jean Changenet [fr] (? – 1494)
  • Jean Poyer (c. 1445 – c. 1503)
  • Colin d'Amiens [fr] (c. 1450 – c. 1500)
  • Jean Perréal (c. 1455 – c. 1530)
  • Jean Bourdichon (c. 1456 – c. 1521)
  • Gauthier de Campes [fr] (fl. 1468 – after 1530) possibly the Master of Saint Giles (c. 1500)
  • Jehan Bellegambe (c. 1470 – c. 1536)
  • Jean Hey (fl. c. 1475 – c. 1505)
  • Jean Clouet (1480 – 1541)
  • Josse Lieferinxe (fl. c. 1493 – c. 1508)
  • Nicolas Dipre (c. 1495 – 1532)
  • Simon de Châlons [fr] (c. 1500 – 1568)
  • Jean Cousin the Elder (1500 – before 1593)
  • François Clouet (c. 1510 – 1572)
  • Noël Jallier [fr] (? – after 1549)
  • Antoine Caron (1521 – 1599)
  • Jean Cousin the Younger (c. 1522 – 1595)
  • Master of Flora [fr] (before 1540 – 1560)
  • François Quesnel (c. 1543 – 1619)
  • Henri Lerambert [fr] (c. 1550 – 1608)
  • Jacob Bunel (1558 – 1614)
  • Toussaint Dubreuil (c. 1561 – 1602)
  • Martin Fréminet (1567 – 1619)
  • Philippe Millereau (c. 1570 – 1610)
  • Ambroise Dubois (fl. c. 1570 – 1619)
  • Quentin Varin (c. 1575 – 1626)
  • Georges Lallemand (c. 1575 – 1636)

Active in France

  • Jean Malouel (neth. c. 1365 – 1415)
  • Corneille de Lyon (neth. c. 1500 – 1575)
  • Francesco Primaticcio (it. 1503 – 1570)
  • Grégoire Guérard [fr] (neth. before 1512 – after 1538)
  • Bartholomeus Pons [fr] (neth. before 1518 – after 1541)

Portugal

  • Grão Vasco (1475–1542)
  • Gregório Lopes (1490–1550)
  • Francisco de Holanda (1517–1585)
  • Cristóvão Lopes (1516–1594)
  • Cristóvão de Figueiredo (?-c.1543)
  • Jorge Afonso (1470–1540)
  • António de Holanda (1480–1571)
  • Cristóvão de Morais
  • Nuno Gonçalves (c. 1425 – c. 1491)
  • Francisco Henriques (?–1518)
  • Frei Carlos (?–1540)

Spain

Venetian Dalmatia (modern Croatia)

  • Giorgio da Sebenico (c. 1410 – 1475)
  • Niccolò di Giovanni Fiorentino (1418–1506)
  • Andrea Alessi (1425–1505)
  • Francesco Laurana (c. 1430 – 1502)
  • Giovanni Dalmata (c. 1440 – c. 1514)
  • Nicholas of Ragusa (1460? – 1517)
  • Andrea Schiavone (c. 1510/1515 – 1563)

Works

Major collections

Related pages

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Arte del Renacimiento para niños

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