Early Modern Europe

Portrait painting of a man with a beard and a turban in an ornate frame.

Early modern Europe experienced significant changes, influenced by rising urbanization, new ways of thinking, global networks, colonization, and shifts in religion

Italian Renaissance
The Baroque
Northern Renaissance

Notable People and Artists

The Italian Renaissance

Innovation and experimentation defined the Italian city-states between 1400–1600

The Basics

What is a renaissance court?

What is contrapposto?

What is a portrait medal? Pisanello’s portrait medal of Leonello d’Este

What is di sotto in sù in Andrea Mantegna’s oculus fresco?

What is a patron? Learn about patronage and Lorenzo de’ Medici

Learn more about the Italian Renaissance

Dig Deeper into the Italian Renaissance

Rapahel's Lady with a Unicorn and female portraiture
Sandro Botticelli's Tondo
Looking to Rome: Andrea Mantegna's oculus in the Camera Picta
An elite home in Florence: Palazzo Rucellai
The function of an altarpiece in a church
Haloes explained | A painting of Saint George by Andrea Mantegna
Defining the Annunciation with Leonardo da Vinci
Defining linear perspective
What is an angel? | Simone Martini's Annunciation
What is the Adoration of the Magi? | Gentile da Fabriano's Strozzi Altarpiece
What is rustication? | Palazzo della Signoria and Palazzo Te
Who was Lorenzo de'Medici, the Magnificent?

Important terms and concepts

City-State

Florence

Humanism

Renaissance

Portraiture

Oculus

Altarpiece

Palazzo

Halo

Angel

Annunciation

Adoration of the Magi

Biblical narrative

Portrait and portraiture

The Medici Family

Learn more about the Italian Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance

Art and culture in Europe north of the Alps in the 15th century 16th centuries

Important terms and concepts

Portraiture

Oil Painting

Defining portrait with Rogier van der Weyden's Portrait of a Lady

The Baroque

The 17th century is widely known as the Baroque era

Adding drama to painting: Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith
Exploring still life painting with Rachel Ruysch's Vase of Flowers

Caravaggio's Fortune Teller and Genre Scenes

Learn more about genre scenes
Exploring the symbolism of a scepter with Queen Elizabeth I of England

Self-portraiture and Judith Leyster

Learn more

Jacques de Gheyn II’s Vanitas Still-Life Painting

Important terms and concepts

Tenebrism

Still-life painting

Scepter

Self-portrait

Learn more about vanitas

Explore Continents

Related Resources