10 Great Renaissance Artists

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Mark Cartwright
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published on 19 October 2020
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The Renaissance of 15th- and 16th-century CE Europe witnessed an extraordinary blossoming of artistic talent. In this collection of resources, we look at ten of the greatest artists from the period who offered a whole new approach to painting and sculpture. These masters were most interested in colours, light, proportion, detail, harmony, perspective, and giving their work a wow factor never before seen in art.

Here is our list of the top ten Renaissance artists presented in the order of their birth:

  1. Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455 CE) - the sculptor who created the 'Gates of Paradise' in Florence.
  2. Donatello (c. 1386-1466 CE) - a master sculptor whose work was designed to be seen from every angle.
  3. Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441 CE) - a genius of oil painting who has perhaps never been equalled since.
  4. Giovanni Bellini (c. 1430-1516 CE) - a master of colour, perspective, and hyper-realistic detail.
  5. Andrea Mantegna (c. 1431-1506 CE) - a brilliant draughtsman and a maestro at achieving playful effects of perspective.
  6. Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510 CE) - a master with colours and at reinterpreting classical images.
  7. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519 CE) - he transformed the study of subjects and innovated in all areas, especially portraiture.
  8. Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528 CE) - the greatest engraver and master of detail, light, and realism.
  9. Michelangelo (1475-1564 CE) - the first 'Renaissance man' who was as skilled in painting as in sculpture.
  10. Raphael (1483-1520 CE) - a master of colouring, harmony, and creating the illusion of space.

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About the Author

Mark Cartwright
Mark is a full-time writer, researcher, historian, and editor. Special interests include art, architecture, and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director.

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