3.2 The Renaissance

Rebirth

The Renaissance ('rebirth') revived classical ideals and naturalism. Artists mastered linear perspective, anatomy, and chiaroscuro (light-and-shadow modeling).

Masters

Leonardo da Vinci ('Last Supper', 'Mona Lisa') used sfumato (soft, smoky transitions). Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling and carved 'David.' Raphael balanced 'The School of Athens.'

Humanism

Renaissance art reflects humanism — a renewed focus on human potential, reason, and the individual — and patronage by the Church, the Medici, and wealthy city-states.

Key terms

Renaissance

'rebirth' of classical ideals and naturalism

Linear perspective

geometric system for depicting depth

Chiaroscuro / sfumato

light-shadow modeling / soft smoky blending

Michelangelo

Sistine Chapel ceiling; 'David'

Humanism

focus on human potential, reason, the individual

Try an AP-style question

Linear perspective creates depth by…

1. flattening the image
2. using gold backgrounds
3. converging lines toward a vanishing point
4. making all figures the same size