Filippo Brunelleschi was the son of a well-known attorney in Florence. So at a young age, his father taught him how to read and write and know arithmetic. Since he thought Filippo would become an attorney like himself, he saw to it that he read many books on many different subjects. However, since...

The era known as the Renaissance began approximately around the beginning of the fifteenth century. The philosophy behind the whole movement is one of "rebirth" or the re-establishing of ancient classical culture. Following the collapse of the Roman civilization, much of Europe fell into decline,...

At the end of the fourteenth century, gothic architecture began to wear off and renaissance architecture moved in. Europe was evolving out of the middle ages and in the Renaissance period. The beliefs in humanity were growing in popularity. Along with the changes in ways of life, politics, families ...

In the Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy, there is a cathedral church whose octagonal dome, built without the aid of scaffolding, was considered the greatest engineering feat of the early Renaissance. Dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, Our Lady of the Flower, it is also known as the Duomo, af...

The heroic vision of the High Renaissance artists and their patrons was shared by their wealthy patrons who set out to better the 'ancients'. In Rome and Milan, artists and architects were commissioned to aggrandize the triumphs of popes and princes, dynasties, and the Church. Bramante led in his...

Leonardo da Vinci, one of the great artists of the High Renaissance, was a painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, and scientist. His paintings influenced the Italian art style for more that a century after his death. His innovations in science lead to many developments of modern science. Leonardo w...

The Tempietto, or "Little Chapel," was designed by Donato Bramante, who was one of the greatest architects of the Renaissance. The Tempietto is located in the courtyard of San Pietro in Montorio in Rome and was built in 1502. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain ruled parts of southern Italy...

The Parthenon is a huge structure that was built many thousands of years ago. Its construction started in 447 B.C. and the whole structure was completed in 438 B.C. First, for the Parthenon, the emperor wanted to turn the building into a church. So it was but after many disputes over Emperor Theodos...

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci was born on the fifteenth of April, 1452, near the town of Vinci, not far from Florence. He was the son of a Florentine notary, Piero da Vinci, and a young woman named Caterina. Leonardo spent most of his life in Florence and Milan. In 1469 he was app...

If one were to be asked if Michelangelo's life affected his work, I would have to say yes and that would be saying it in the least. All of Michelangelo's work was based on his life from childhood up to six days before his death. Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475 in the v...

The great age of the Renaissance was a time when old beliefs were tested. It was a period of intellectual ferment that prepared the ground for the thinkers and scientists of the 17th century. It was an age that bore many great artists, including two of history's most renowned: Leonardo da Vinci and...

There are many countries of the world that exist solely for the purpose of living. The people of these countries, cities, and towns may not know the treasures that their beautiful land has to offer. A magnificent example of such a country is Italy. The country of Italy is situated in Europe and at...

Michelangelo was one of the most famous and successful people of his time. He attended a school set up by Lorenzo the Magnificent in the gardens of the Palazzo Medici. There he would have had access to the Medici collection of antiques, as well as a certain amount of tuition from the resident master...

Donatello (1386-1466) was a master of sculpture in bronze and marble and is considered one of the greatest Italian Renaissance artists of his time. There is much more to know about him, though then the name alone. He created some of the greatest works of art, not only in the Italian Renaissance bu...