The Italian Renaissance

c. 1300–1600 CE

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

A period in Italian history known for its innovations in art, literature, and architecture

Introduction
Artistic Innovations
Art for Religious Spaces
Important Individuals
Art for Elites
Building in the Renaissance

Introduction to the Italian Renaissance

Learn some basic vocabulary about the Italian renaissance

A Renaissance style mural depicting a historical scene with a group of people, some seated and others standing, dressed in period clothing with various headgear. The background includes decorative architectural elements and trees.

VIDEO: What is a Renaissance court? | Mantegna’s Camera Picta frescos

A bronze sculpture of a young boy who stands with his hand on one hip and looks out at us

VIDEO: What is contrapposto? | Andrea del Verrocchio’s David

a fresco that shows a group of people around a seated man

VIDEO: What is a patron? What is patronage? | Ottavio Vannini’s fresco of Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence

A large wall painting showing people in a battle on horseback

VIDEO: What is tempera painting? | Paolo Uccello’s Battle of San Romano

A sketch shows the Virgin Mary, Christ Child, and two other saints in this drawing

VIDEO: What is a cartoon? |Leonardo da Vinci’s Burlington House Cartoon

Important Individuals

A bust sculpture of a man wearing a hat and scarf, displayed on a pedestal in a museum setting.

VIDEO: Lorenzo de' Medici of Florence

Painting of a woman in a dress with her son

VIDEO: Agnolo Bronzino’s Portrait of Eleanora di Toledo, Duchess of Florence

Painting of many people talking and walking wearing historical clothing

VIDEO: Who is Raphael (Raffaello Santi)?

A portrait of an old man in red and white clothes who sits in a large chair in front of a green wall

VIDEO: Raphael, Portrait of Julius II

Artistic Innovations

Renaissance painting of an idealized city with classical architecture in a gold frame

VIDEO: What is linear perspective? | A painting of the Ideal City

Ancient bronze coin with a woman's profile and an inscription around the edge, mounted on a display stand.

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

a ceiling painting showing a open circle with figures looking down

VIDEO: What is di sotto in su? | Mantegna’s oculus fresco in the Camera Picta in Mantua

Art for Elites

A circular painting by Sandro Botticelli depicting the Madonna and Child with angels in a decorative golden frame.

VIDEO: Tondo: Sandro Botticelli's Madonna and Child

Renaissance ceiling fresco with sky, clouds, and people looking down

VIDEO: Oculus: Andrea Mantegna's Camera Picta and Looking to Rome

Renaissance-style building with arched windows and intricate stonework in an urban setting.

VIDEO: Palazzo: An elite home in Florence, the Palazzo Rucellai

The Madonna and Christ Child are supported by two angels, in a painting, with a landscape beyond

VIDEO: Filippo Lippi's Madonna and Child with Two Angels

Portrait of a young woman in a Renaissance-style dress holding a small unicorn, set in an ornate gold frame.

VIDEO: Raphael's Lady with a Unicorn and female portraiture

A large bronze sculpture of a young boy with a hat, standing on a base, displayed in a museum with walls decorated with framed artwork and sculptures.

COMING SOON: Donatello, David

Art for Religious Spaces

Florence

1300s

A religious icon depicting the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus, with gold backgrounds and decorative elements.

VIDEO: Giotto di Bondone, Ognissanti Madonna

1400s

Renaissance painting with religious figures and ornate patterns

VIDEO: Altarpiece: Fra Angelico's altarpiece at San Marco

A religious painting depicting an angel delivering a message to a seated woman. The angel kneels on the left with wings extended and a floral staff, while the woman sits on the right by a decorative table. Trees and a landscape are visible in the background.

VIDEO: Defining the Annunciation with Leonardo da Vinci

Religious fresco of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ viewed through a wooden door frame.

VIDEO: Fra Angelico, Crucifixion mural for San Marco

A large group of people converge upon a woman holding a baby in a large altarpiece surrounded by a golden frame

VIDEO: Adoration of the Magi: Gentile da Fabriano's Strozzi Altarpiece

1500s

A detailed classical oil painting of a biblical scene depicting Jesus Christ's body being prepared for burial, surrounded by mourning women with expressions of sorrow and grief.

VIDEO: Jacopo Pontormo, Deposition from the Cross

Siena

An angel kneels before a woman in a bright blue mantle

VIDEO: What is an Angel? Simone Martini's Annunciation

Northern Italy

A framed painting of a knight in armor holding a spear, standing over a dragon, set against a landscape background. The artwork is displayed on a blue wall.

VIDEO: Understanding what a halo is with Andrea Mantegna’s Saint George

Guido Mazzoni, Lamentation, 1480s, polychromed terracotta, created for the church of Santa Maria della Rosa (no longer extant), today in the Church of the Gesù, Ferrara, Italy

VIDEO: Guido Mazzoni, Lamentation Group in Ferrara

Building in the Renaissance

View of the Florence Palazzo Vecchio with its tall clock tower and crenellated walls, surrounded by tiled rooftops under a partly cloudy sky, with a construction crane in the background.

VIDEO: Rustication and Renaissance architecture

Front view of a historic church with black and white striped marble facade, triangular pediment, large circular window, and decorative details. There are ambulance vehicles and people in front, with trees and a column with a sculpture on top on the right.

VIDEO: Santa Maria Novella and Leon Battista Alberti

Notable People and Artists

Explore Continents

Related Resources