The art of the Renaissance period in Europe (1400-1600 CE) includes some of the most recognisable and best-loved paintings and sculptures in the world. Masters were often skilled in both painting and sculpture, and by studying the art of antiquity and adding their theoretical knowledge of mathematical perspective and new painting techniques, they produced truly unique works of art. Realism, detail, drama, and subtle layers of meaning became features of religious and secular art. Now, artists finally broke free from their old craftworker status and achieved a new position as vital contributors to the culture and prestige of the societies in which they lived.
More about: Renaissance ArtDefinition
Timeline
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1376 - 1455Life of the Italian Renaissance artist Lorenzo Ghiberti.
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1377 - 1446Life of the Italian Renaissance architect and sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi.
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c. 1390 - 1441The life of the Netherlandish Renaissance artist Jan van Eyck.
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1397 - 1475Life of the Italian Renaissance artist Paolo Uccello.
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c. 1415The Italian Renaissance artist Donatello completes his sculpture of Saint George for the Orsanmichele in Florence.
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1420 - 1450The Italian Renaissance artist Donatello sculpts his bronze David in Florence.
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c. 1420 - 1492Life of the Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca.
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1425 - 1452The Italian Renaissance sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti works on his second set of doors, the 'Gates of Paradise', for the Baptistery of Florence's Cathedral.
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c. 1430 - 1516Life of the Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini.
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1432The Ghent Altarpiece is completed by the Netherlandish Renaissance artists Jan van Eyck and Hubert van Eyck.
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1435The Italian Renaissance architect Leon Battista Alberti writes his treatise De pictura (On Painting).
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1436The Italian Renaissance artist Paolo Uccello completes his equestrian fresco of Sir John Hawkwood.
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1446 - 1453The Italian Renaissance artist Donatello creates his bronze panels for the high altar of the Basilica Sant’ Antonio in Padua.
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c. 1450 - 1523Life of the Italian Renaissance artist Pietro Perugino.
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c. 1450The Italian Renaissance sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti writes his Commentaries, a mix of art history and autobiography.
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1452 - 1465The Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca produces his cycle of frescoes on the Legend of the True Cross for the San Francesco church, Arezzo.
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c. 1453The Italian Renaissance artist Donatello completes his equestrian statue of Erasmo da Narni, the Gattamelata (‘honeycat’) in Padua.
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c. 1455The Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca produces his painted panel the Flagellation of Christ.
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c. 1456The Italian Renaissance artist Donatello sculpts his wooden statue of a penitent Mary Magdalene.
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1464The Italian Renaissance architect Leon Battista Alberti writes his treatise on sculpture.
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1465 - 1474The Italian Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna works on his fresco cycles in the Palazzo Ducale of Mantua.
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c. 1465The Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca produces his fresco the Resurrection of Christ.
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c. 1470The Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca produces his portrait of the Duke of Urbino, Federico da Montefeltro.
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1471 - 1528Life of the German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer.
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c. 1474The Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca writes his treatise On Perspective in Painting.
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1475 - 1564Life of the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo.
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1480 - 1484The Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli produces his painting the Birth of Venus.
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c. 1480The Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini completes his Ecstasy of Saint Francis painting.
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c. 1482The Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli produces his Primavera painting.
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c. 1487 - 1576Life of the Italian Renaissance artist Titian.
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1490 - 1492The Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli produces his Lamentation over the Dead Christ painting.
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c. 1492Leonardo da Vinci completes his 'Vitruvian Man' sketch.
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1497 - 1500The Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo works on his masterpiece the Pieta.
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c. 1497 - 1543Life of the German Renaissance painter Hans Holbein the Younger.
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c. 1498Leonardo da Vinci completes his wall mural 'The Last Supper' in Milan's Sante Maria delle Grazie.
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c. 1500The Italian Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli produces his Mystic Nativity painting.
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c. 1500The Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini completes his portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan.
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c. 1503 - c. 1506Leonardo da Vinci completes his painting the 'Mona Lisa'.
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1504The German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer creates his Adam and Eve print.
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1504The Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo completes his masterpiece the statue of David.
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c. 1504The Italian Renaissance artist Raphael completes his The Marriage of the Virgin.
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c. 1505The Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini completes his altarpiece for the San Zaccaria church in Venice.
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1507The Italian Renaissance artist Raphael completes his painting The Entombment of Christ (aka The Deposition).
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1508 - 1512The Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo works on his painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Rome.
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1511The Italian Renaissance artist Raphael completes his frescoes in the Stanze della Segnatura of the Vatican which include The School of Athens.
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c. 1518 - 1594Life of the Italian Renaissance painter Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti).
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c. 1520The Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo completes his masterpiece statue of Moses for the tomb of Pope Julius II.
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c. 1525The German Renaissance painter Hans Holbein the Younger creates his 41-print series the Dance of Death.
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1536The German Renaissance painter Hans Holbein the Younger becomes the court painter of Henry VIII of England.
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1545 - 1554The Italian Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini works on his bronze sculpture of Perseus and Medusa.
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1548The Italian Renaissance artist Tintoretto produces his celebrated Miracle of Saint Mark Rescuing a Slave painting.
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1564 - 1481The Italian Renaissance artist Tintoretto works on his cycle of paintings for Venice’s Scuola Grande di San Rocco.
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c. 1570The Italian Renaissance artist Tintoretto porduces his Saint George and the Dragon painting.
