The Renaissance: The Development Of Art In The Renaissance

Art in the Renaissance “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” (History). The word Renaissance is French for rebirth (Sachs 7). The origins can be traced back to Italy in the 14th century (History). Florence, Venice, and Rome grew into major centers in art, due to the changes that were occurring during this time (Sachs 7.) Artists across the country were exploring their newfound creativity and for new ways to express these advanced concepts (Sachs 7). The Renaissance was a time for artistic expression, especially through the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Leonardo da Vinci is the artist who set the tone of this revival (Sachs 7). He was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy (Sachs 10). At an early age, Leonardo’s father taught him basic Latin, grammar, and mathematics (Sachs 10). Due to the limited knowledge historians have on his education, how he obtained his artistic ability is uncertain (Sachs 10). He traveled often in order to find inspiration (Sachs 8). At this time in Italy, “divided into city-states, a man’s

“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 accomplished by a flowering of philosophy, literature, and especially art” (History). Beginning in the early 14th century, art began to drastically change and new ways of expression emerged (Sachs 7). “Three great masters- Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael- dominated the period of the Renaissance” (History). The legacy of these three great artists and their work has lasted hundreds of years and is bound to last for hundreds more