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Flemish (Dutch) artists introduced oil paints, and the technique of perspective was introduced by artists like Tommaso Masaccio and Filippo Brunelleschi.  Brunelleschi also designed the Duomo (dome) for the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral in Florence, a breakthrough in engineering and architecture that revealed Brunelleschi’s deep understanding of mathematics.

Flemish (Dutch) artists introduced oil paints, and the technique of perspective was introduced by artists like Tommaso Masaccio and Filippo Brunelleschi.  Brunelleschi also designed the Duomo (dome) for the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral in Florence, a breakthrough in engineering and architecture that revealed Brunelleschi’s deep understanding of mathematics.

'''Donatello''' (1386-1466) was an influential painter and sculptor of the early Renaissance from Florence.  He sculpted a bronze “David” and a famous statue of St. George.  Work like this had not been done since ancient Greece and Rome.  Titian (Tiziano Vicelli) (1477-1576) was a painter skilled with unprecedented use of color and loose brushwork, evident in his stunning masterpiece ''The Assumption of the Virgin''.  '''Raphael''' (1482-1520) also mastered the use of color and painted beautiful frescoes in churches and for private patrons, the most famous of which may be ''The School of Athens'', a painting depicting Plato and Aristotle surrounded by their pupils.  He also inspired the two greatest artists in the history of the world: Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.   

'''Donatello''' (1386-1466) was an influential painter and sculptor of the early Renaissance from Florence.  He sculpted a bronze “David” and a famous statue of St. George.  Work like this had not been done since ancient Greece and Rome.  Titian (Tiziano Vicelli) (1477-1576) was a painter skilled with unprecedented use of color and loose brushwork, evident in his stunning masterpiece ''The Assumption of the Virgin''.  '''Raphael''' (1482-1520) also mastered colorful artwork and painted beautiful frescoes in churches and for private patrons, the most famous of which may be ''The School of Athens'', a painting depicting Plato and Aristotle surrounded by their pupils.  He also inspired the two greatest artists in the history of the world: Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.   

'''Michelangelo''' (1475-1564) is best known for his sculpture of a full-sized statue of David and for painting the ceiling of the [[Sistine Chapel]], an astounding fresco that includes over 300 Biblical figures (including the famous image of God creating Adam with an outstretched arm and hand that touches Adam's outstretched arm and hand).  The Sistine Chapel that took more than four years to complete, and an impatient Church official who wanted it completed sooner ended up being featured in the depiction of Hell!  Michelangelo also sculpted amazing renditions of Moses and “the Pieta,” a sculpture of Jesus in Mary’s arms after the Crucifixion (see above right).  The Pieta has an overpowering sense of love and tragedy to it unmatched by any other work of art in history.  Following Brunelleschi’s model Duomo in Florence, Michelangelo also designed the dome for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.     

'''Michelangelo''' (1475-1564) is best known for his sculpture of a full-sized statue of David and for painting the ceiling of the [[Sistine Chapel]], an astounding fresco that includes over 300 Biblical figures (including the famous image of God creating Adam with an outstretched arm and hand that touches Adam's outstretched arm and hand).  The Sistine Chapel that took more than four years to complete, and an impatient Church official who wanted it completed sooner ended up being featured in the depiction of Hell!  Michelangelo also sculpted amazing renditions of Moses and “the Pieta,” a sculpture of Jesus in Mary’s arms after the Crucifixion (see above right).  The Pieta has an overpowering sense of love and tragedy to it unmatched by any other work of art in history.  Following Brunelleschi’s model Duomo in Florence, Michelangelo also designed the dome for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.     

The Renaissance was led by devout Christians who looked to Jesus for inspiration.  None of the leading Renaissance artists or writers were atheists or anti-Christians.  Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were as Christian as anyone.  Their Christian faith was the wellspring for their creativity and intellectual achievements.

The Renaissance was led by devout Christians who looked to Jesus for inspiration.  None of the leading Renaissance artists or writers were atheists or anti-Christians.  Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were as Christian as anyone.  Their Christian faith was the wellspring for their creativity and intellectual achievements.

Some historians attempt to de-emphasize the Christian foundation of the Renaissance, and claim that it shifted away from spirituality in order to focus material, earthly things ("humanism").  Renaissance artists did paint focusing more on human beings, such as the Mona Lisa, rather than about the afterlife.  But the great artists and thinkers of the Renaissance were inspired by Christianity in performing their works, and the objects of their work were men and women created in the image of God.  There was nothing anti-religious about the Renaissance.  Perhaps 90% or more of its achievements were inspired by Christian beliefs and faith.

Some historians attempt to de-emphasize the Christian foundation of the Renaissance, and claim that it shifted away from spirituality in order to focus material, earthly things ("humanism").  Renaissance artists did focus more on human beings, such as the Mona Lisa, rather than on the afterlife.  But the great artists and thinkers of the Renaissance were inspired by Christianity in performing their works, and the objects of their work were men and women created in the image of God.  There was nothing anti-religious about the Renaissance.  Perhaps 90% or more of its achievements were inspired by Christian beliefs and faith.

Centuries after the Renaissance, secularism did creep in.  Secularism is defined as preoccupation with the material world at the expense of the heavenly one.  This caused people to become increasingly materialistic.  The teachings of the Bible lost importance to some.  Some people rejected religion altogether, becoming “secular humanists.”  But even later, the greatest scientific works were by devout Christians like Isaac Newton and Louis Pasteur.

Centuries after the Renaissance, secularism did creep in.  Secularism is defined as preoccupation with the material world at the expense of the heavenly one.  This caused people to become increasingly materialistic.  The teachings of the Bible lost importance to some.  Some people rejected religion altogether, becoming “secular humanists.”  But even later, the greatest scientific works were by devout Christians like Isaac Newton and Louis Pasteur.

The heart of the Renaissance was in Italy, but there were also great artists and thinkers in northern Europe (primarily the Netherlands and Germany) who built on the achievements of those in Italy.  Their achievements are known as the “Northern Renaissance.”

The heart of the Renaissance was in Italy, but there were also great artists and thinkers in northern Europe (primarily the Netherlands and Germany) who built on the achievements of those in Italy.  Their achievements are known as the “Northern Renaissance.”

'''The leading thinker of the Northern Renaissance was Desiderius Erasmus''' (1466-1536) in the Netherlands.  He wanted more spirituality in the Catholic Church and urged a greater emphasis on the teachings of Jesus.  He published a Greek edition of the New Testament, and was the first scholar to become famous through''' use of the printing press, developed in Germany in 1447''' during the Northern Renaissance.  Erasmus also wrote satires about the Church that led others to criticize it too, but Erasmus condemned Luther and strenuously opposed the Reformation.

'''The leading thinker of the Northern Renaissance was Desiderius Erasmus''' (1466-1536) in the Netherlands.  He wanted more spirituality in the Catholic Church and urged a greater emphasis on the teachings of Jesus.  He published a Greek edition of the New Testament, and was the first scholar to become famous through '''use of the printing press, developed in Germany in 1447''' during the Northern Renaissance.  Erasmus also wrote satires about the Church that led others to criticize it too, but Erasmus condemned Luther and strenuously opposed the Reformation.

'''Albrecht Durer''' (1471-1528) was the leading artist in Germany, copying the style of the High Renaissance that combined grace and extreme elegance, a style known as “Mannerism”.  Durer created famous woodcuts and copper engravings.

'''Albrecht Durer''' (1471-1528) was the leading artist in Germany, copying the style of the High Renaissance that combined grace and extreme elegance, a style known as “Mannerism”.  Durer created famous woodcuts and copper engravings.