1. Renaissance and Beyond

2. What is Renaissance? Renaissance, French for ‘rebirth,' perfectly describes the changes that occurred in Europe from the fourteenth through the sixteenth centuries. (That’s the 1300s, 1400s and 1500s) -- A LONG time ago!!

3. What is Renaissance? The Renaissance painter depicted the human figure as realistically as possible, often with backgrounds of the natural world.

4. Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci was an early renaissance painter that was amazing at painting humans with LOTS of detail. His two most famous paintings are the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. I’m sure you have seen copies of these in your travels!

5. Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. He didn’t really have a last name - da Vinci means from Vinci. So, he was Leonardo from Vinci.

6. Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo was also a scientist. He was a brilliant man. He designed many machines in his life, the helicopter and bicycle are just a few. Click the helicopter below to see more of Leonardo’s inventions.

7. What is Renaissance? Science had taught the artist how to show linear perspective--that is, how to represent objects in relative sizes so that smaller objects appear to be farther from the viewer than larger objects.

8. Vanishing point By using a vanishing point in our drawing, we can make our works more realistic. Distant figures appear smaller but have the same shape and proportions as they would close up.

9. Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo was amazing at perspective. Leonardo’s painting titled The Annunciation shows objects that are closer are larger and object that are far away are smaller. Can you find the vanishing point in his painting?

10. What is Renaissance? Renaissance painters not only portrayed objects with more realism than earlier artists did, they often filled their canvases with more objects, all carefully and accurately depicted.

11. Michelangelo Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born in Italy on March 6, 1475. Michelangelo was a famous Renaissance Sculptor and Painter. He always thought of himself as a sculptor more than a painter.

12. Michelangelo Two of his sculpture are known around the world. The first shows Jesus in the arms of Mary and the second is of David (which is probably his most famous work). He put so much detail into each sculpture.

13. Michelangelo also painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Italy. Can you imagine working with your hands over your head for years? OUCH! Michelangelo

14. Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born on July 15, 1606. Rembrandt painted many biblical scenes but also did some landscapes. He is best known for his portraits of people! Look how ominous these paintings are.

15. Rembrandt Rembrandt was also famous for his etchings. Etchings are when you use an acid to burn an image into metal. Then, prints are made from the metal template. Can you see anything peculiar in this etching? This is an etching of Rembrandt holding a sword.

16. There are MANY other renaissance artists that made a huge impact on art through the ages. Hopefully, you’ll be able to identify some of the great ones when you see pictures of them throughout your life!