The Renaissance is a period in European history that marked the transition between the dark and gloomy Middle Ages into a completely new era of social progress. Some of the greatest minds in history lived during this period which encompassed the 15th and 16th centuries. The revival of Humanism derived from the Roman version “Humanitas,” …
Artworks
The identity of a woman painted by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483-1520) shortly before he passed away has been up for debate, even though many art historians have somewhat reached a consensus about the matter. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about “La Fornarina,” a painting by Raphael also …
Although Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564), or simply “Michelangelo,” is recognized today as one of the greatest Renaissance artists in history, he still had to work hard in the beginning stages of his career to establish himself. He even committed an actor of fraud when he tried to pass on one of his works …
Although Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) didn’t complete a whole lot of paintings during his lifetime, he can definitely be considered one of the most influential artists of the Renaissance. His talent was so obvious from a young age that he quickly outgrew the talent of his master Andrea del Verrochio (1435-1488) and went his own …
The turbulent life of Caravaggio (1571-1610) took a dramatic turn when he had to flee his native Milan for Rome in the early 1590s. One brawl too many supposedly caused serious harm to a police officer, even though this story has never been confirmed. Either way, he was so talented that his distinctive paintings inspired …
One of the most famous paintings in the world depicts one of the best-known Christian stories. Even though The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci only lasted a couple of decades due to the experimental use of materials by the Italian polymath, it’s still considered to be one of the world’s ultimate treasures. The Renaissance …
When Antonio Canova (1757-1822) arrived in Rome, he had to start all over with establishing a reputation, the same as he did during his early period in Venice. The work described in this article is what put the Neoclassical artist on the map in Italy’s capital. Let’s take a closer at some of the most …
Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), one of the greatest masters of the Baroque period, traveled all across Europe for extended periods. He did, however, have a home city where he established a huge workshop. The city of Antwerp is one of the biggest port cities in the world and is located in modern-day Belgium. …
Italian artist of the Renaissance Tiziano Vecelli (1488-1576), better known as “Titian,” offered to paint a series of paintings for a notorious king in the 16th century. Even though his initial offer was rejected, another king agreed for him to complete the series. One of these remarkable works in the oeuvre of Titian depicts a …
One of the most fascinating works of the Greek artist of the Spanish Renaissance named Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos (1541-1614), better known by his nickname “El Greco,” was also his final one. This work is known as “The Adoration of the Shepherds” and was painted for a very particular purpose. Let’s take a closer look at this …