Medieval & Renaissance Art

Byzantine Art

Art from the Eastern Roman Empire, best known for its mosaic work and Christian themes.

Mosaic

Art made from small pieces of ceramic tiles, stone, or glass set into a ground material to create images.

Hagia Sophia

A great architectural achievement built in Constantinople between 532–537 CE.

Illuminated Manuscripts

Hand-copied texts adorned with images and designs, preserved primarily in monasteries.

Romanesque Architecture

A style characterized by stone vaulted buildings and thick walls, using Roman arches.

Gothic Architecture

A style that emerged in the 12th century, featuring pointed arches and ribbed vaults.

Sfumato

A painting technique involving the subtle blending of colors and soft outlines, popularized by Leonardo da Vinci.

The Birth of Venus

A famous painting by Botticelli that established a lasting image of female beauty.

High Renaissance

Period noted for the works of master artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Counter-Reformation

The Catholic Church's reaction to Protestant criticism, emphasizing dramatic and emotional art.

Matthias Grünewald

A Northern European artist known for religious scenes and the Isenheim Altarpiece.

Albrecht Dürer

A German artist who combined Northern realism with Italian Renaissance ideals.

Hans Holbein the Younger

A notable Renaissance portraitist known for capturing psychological depth in his subjects.

Linear Perspective

An artistic technique developed during the Renaissance to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface.