Renaissance
A cultural movement that began in Italy during the 14th century, characterized by a revival of interest in the classical art, literature, and learning of ancient Greece and Rome.
Renaissance humanism
An intellectual movement during the Renaissance that emphasized the study of classical texts, human potential, and individualism.
civic humanism
A branch of Renaissance humanism that focused on the role of the citizen in the political community, emphasizing civic virtue and participation in public life.
Leonardo da Vinci
An Italian polymath of the Renaissance known for his contributions to art, science, and engineering, famous for works like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
Northern Renaissance
A cultural and artistic movement that took place in Northern Europe during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, characterized by a focus on detailed realism and the incorporation of classical themes.
Desiderius Erasmus
A Dutch Renaissance humanist and theologian known for his critical editions of the New Testament and for his advocacy of religious reform and education.
Sistine Chapel
A chapel in Vatican City famous for its Renaissance art, particularly the ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
new monarchies
The rise of centralized royal power in Europe during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, characterized by the consolidation of authority and reduction of feudal privileges.
Michelangelo
An Italian sculptor, painter, and architect of the High Renaissance, renowned for masterpieces such as the statue of David and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Thomas More
An English lawyer, social philosopher, and statesman best known for his book "Utopia," which describes an ideal society based on reason and communal ownership.
Leonardo Bruni
An Italian humanist, historian, and statesman, known for his work "The New Cicero" and contributions to the revival of classical learning during the Renaissance.
Venetian school
A group of Renaissance artists from Venice, known for their use of color and light, including painters like Titian and Tintoretto.
Machiavelli
An Italian diplomat, philosopher, and writer, best known for his political treatise "The Prince," which discusses power dynamics and statecraft.
Mannerism
An artistic style that emerged in the late Renaissance, characterized by elongated forms, exaggerated poses, and often a sense of tension or instability.
Italian Decline
The period in the late 16th century when Italy's political and economic power waned, leading to a decrease in cultural influence and the rise of other European powers.
Albrecht Durer
German Northern Renaissance painter and engraver, known for his high-quality woodcuts and engravings, as well as his detailed studies of human proportions.
Renaissance architecture
A style of architecture that emerged during the Renaissance, characterized by symmetry, proportion, and the use of classical elements such as columns and domes.
Raphael
An Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance, renowned for his beautiful Madonnas and large figure compositions in the Vatican.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder
A Flemish painter known for his landscapes and peasant scenes, often depicting the lives of common people.
Hans Holbein the Younger
A German-Swiss painter and printmaker of the Northern Renaissance, noted for his detailed portraits and his work as a court painter for Henry VIII.
Alberti
An Italian polymath of the Renaissance, known for his contributions to art, architecture, and theory, particularly through his treatise "On Painting."
Petrarch
An Italian scholar and poet of the Renaissance, often called the "father of Humanism" for his work in reviving classical literature and his contributions to the development of the sonnet form.
Battle of Pavia
A significant battle in 1525 during the Italian Wars, where the forces of the Spanish Empire defeated the French, leading to the capture of King Francis I.
Perspective
A technique used in painting to create the illusion of depth and space on a flat surface, allowing artists to depict three-dimensional scenes realistically.
Donatello
An Italian sculptor of the Renaissance known for his work in bas-relief and for creating some of the first life-sized statues since antiquity, including the famous bronze statue of David.
Christine de Pizan
A medieval writer and philosopher, known for her works advocating for women's rights and education, including "The Book of the City of Ladies."