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

Notable People and Artists

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.
The Renaissance Court
A bronze sculpture of a young boy who stands with his hand on one hip and looks out at us
Contrapposto
a fresco that shows a group of people around a seated man
Patrons and patronage

Important Individuals

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

Artistic Innovations

Renaissance painting of an idealized city with classical architecture in a gold frame
Linear perspective
Ancient bronze coin with a woman's profile and an inscription around the edge, mounted on a display stand.
Portrait medals and Pisanello
a ceiling painting showing a open circle with figures looking down
Mantegna and di sotto in sù

Art for Elites

Oculus: Andrea Mantegna's Camera Picta and Looking to Rome
A circular painting by Sandro Botticelli depicting the Madonna and Child with angels in a decorative golden frame.
Tondo: Sandro Botticelli's Madonna and Child
Renaissance ceiling fresco with sky, clouds, and people looking down
Renaissance-style building with arched windows and intricate stonework in an urban setting.
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
Object Story about Filippo Lippi's Madonna and Child with Two Angels

Art for Religious Spaces

Renaissance painting with religious figures and ornate patterns
Altarpiece: Fra Angelico's altarpiece at San Marco
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.
Halo: Saint George by Andrea Mantegna
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.
Defining the Annunciation with Leonardo da Vinci
An angel kneels before a woman in a bright blue mantle
Angel: Simone Martini's Annunciation
A large group of people converge upon a woman holding a baby in a large altarpiece surrounded by a golden frame
Adoration of the Magi: Gentile da Fabriano's Strozzi Altarpiece

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.
Rustication and Renaissance Architecture

Learn more about specific artworks

Italian city-states such as Florence, Genoa, Venice, and Siena were ruled by oligarchies

Portrait of a young woman in a Renaissance-style dress holding a small unicorn, set in an ornate gold frame.
Rapahel's Lady with a Unicorn and female portraiture

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