This is a period of ambitious commissions—the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Tomb of Pope Julius II...
1500 - 1600
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Plautilla Nelli, The Last Supper
A Dominican nun, Plautilla Nelli mirrors the environment of her convent’s refectory in The Last Supper.
Leonardo da Vinci, “Vitruvian Man”
The “Vitruvian Man” presupposes, with enough effort, idealism can be achieved in human reality.
A chapel for Eleonora di Toledo, Duchess of Florence
Entering the private chapel of Eleanora of Toledo, Duchess of Florence is like stepping into a jeweled box.
Verrocchio, David with the Head of Goliath
Verrocchio's David, sculpted only a couple decades after Donatello's version, is more real than idealized
Classic, classical, and classicism explained
What's the difference between classic art, classical art, and classicism?
Michelangelo, Studies for the Libyan Sibyl
Michelangelo transforms a male model into a female figure. Discover the artist’s working process.
Michelangelo, Taddei Tondo
Michelangelo's art could be tender and lyrical, dwelling upon the inherent tensions of the human condition.
Unfinished business—Michelangelo and the Pope
Michelangelo left many sculptures unfinished, but perhaps none are more beautiful than the slaves.
The Sack of Rome in 1527
The Sack of Rome in 1527 had a long-lasting impact on the cultural and artistic life of papal Rome.
Benvenuto Cellini, Salt Cellar
Cellini's salt cellar was prized as luxury tableware and was also an intellectual conversation starter in renaissance France.
Replicating Michelangelo
Replicas form a vital component of Michelangelo’s legacy, and they have helped transform him into a global cultural icon
Michelangelo, David
Where’s Goliath? David scans for his enemy. This colossal sculpture is itself a giant of 16th-century Renaissance art.
