A new realism appears in the art of central Italy in the 15th century.
1400 - 1500 (Early Renaissance)
Beginner's guide
Learn about the suite of tools Italian Renaissance artists used to create an illusion of space, and a body that moves easily.
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Filippo Brunelleschi, Pazzi Chapel
A central dome dominates this space, while greyish-green stone articulates its perfect geometry.
Donatello, Feast of Herod
City-states vied for the best artists. After Ghiberti dragged his feet, Siena invited Donatello to finish the job.
Donatello, David
His nudity references classical antiquity, but David embodies the ideals and concerns of 15th-century Florence.
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation
The life-sized figures of Mary and Gabriel occupy an open porch—a space not unlike the cloisters of San Marco.
Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti, Sacrifice of Isaac
Brunelleschi’s panel may be scarier, but Ghiberti’s is more emotionally complex. In both, an angel saves the day.
Laudario of Sant’Agnese
The Laudario of Sant'Agnese is one of the most important examples of early Renaissance illumination and it was decorated by two of the most sought-after workshops at the time.
Giovanni Bellini, Brera Pietà
Bellini zooms in on three figures—the Virgin Mary, Christ, and John—to create a sense of our being with them after Christ's death
Andrea della Robbia’s bambini at the Ospedale degli Innocenti, Florence
In the five centuries since they were installed, Andrea della Robbia's sculptures of children have become a widely recognized symbol of the Innocenti hospital and of childhood itself
Mariko Mori on Botticelli’s The Annunciation
Contemporary artist discusses how Botticelli's "The Annunciation" teaches humility
Filippino Lippi’s Madonna and Child, an early image of enslaved people in renaissance Florence
A 15th-century Florentine painting tells us about the arrival of oil painting to the city, international trade, and slavery in the renaissance.
Botticelli, Portrait of a Man with a Medal of Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici
Touch an artwork? Sandro Botticelli’s Portrait of a Man with a Medal helped viewers to think about touch and physical experience.
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