Artists of the Renaissance

Art is defined as the high quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value. The way people interpret art, and how art is created changes with the time periods. Three famous artists: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael all had one thing in common, the time period in which they created their artworks. This period of time is called "The Renaissance." All three were Renaissance men, who were looked up to. Since they are all artists of the Renaissance, are we supposed to compare their artwork? All three had different strengths, from painting to sculpting to architecture.

The Renaissance was an influential movement for culture that brought a period of transformation in thought of artistic values, and also brought forth a scientific revolution. This term, Renaissance, marks the time between the Middle Ages and the Modern Ages. Rebirth is another common word used when learning of the Renaissance. This term is used to describe the flourishing times of science and art. "Rebirth is used in two ways. First, it means rediscovery of ancient classical texts and learning and their applications in the arts and sciences. Second, it means that the results of these intellectual activities created a revitalization of European culture in general (Encyclopedia). Renaissance attributers include such famous names as: William Shakespeare, John Milton, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Europeans became more interested, during this time, in studying nature, the outside world. Renaissance art was used to show joy in pleasure of life, and the beauty of the world around (Dowling).

Raphael was born in the Umbrian city of Urbino. His given name was Raffaello Santi. Some people say that Raphael's development of his art skills came from his father. His father, Giovanni di Santi di Piero was a respectable but unknown painter and poet. His father died when Raphael was eleven, but Raphael received training from the workshop that continued on after Giovanni's death. Little of his father's influence is seen in his works; Raphael took earlier Renaissance painters as his teachers: Piero della Francesca and Leone Battista Alberti. In 1504, Raphael went to Florence to develop more skills of his trade. During his four year in there, he matured as an artist