A central dome dominates this space, while greyish-green stone articulates its perfect geometry.
Central Italy 1400s
City-states vied for the best artists. After Ghiberti dragged his feet, Siena invited Donatello to finish the job.
Donatello, Feast of Herod
His nudity references classical antiquity, but David embodies the ideals and concerns of 15th-century Florence.
Donatello, David
The life-sized figures of Mary and Gabriel occupy an open porch—a space not unlike the cloisters of San Marco.
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation
Brunelleschi’s panel may be scarier, but Ghiberti’s is more emotionally complex. In both, an angel saves the day.
Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti, Sacrifice of ...
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.
Laudario of Sant’Agnese
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
Giovanni Bellini, Brera Pietà
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
Andrea della Robbia’s bambini at the Ospedale ...
Contemporary artist discusses how Botticelli's "The Annunciation" teaches humility
Mariko Mori on Botticelli’s The Annunciation
A 15th-century Florentine painting tells us about the arrival of oil painting to the city, international trade, and slavery in the renaissance.
Filippino Lippi’s Madonna and Child, an early ...
Touch an artwork? Sandro Botticelli’s Portrait of a Man with a Medal helped viewers to think about touch and physical experience.
Botticelli, Portrait of a Man with a ...
A soldier saint in Renaissance Florence.
Donatello, Saint George
This painting blends deep piety with scientific observation. Both its architecture and figures were radically new.
Masaccio, Holy Trinity
Brilliant golden brocades. Psuedo-Arabic. Turbans. Leopards and lions. The Adoration of the Magi speaks to the global flow of goods at this time.
Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi ...
Don’t stand so straight! Relax. Shift your weight. Bend a knee. Just respond to the world, like this spear-bearer.
Contrapposto explained
When the citizens of Florence looked up at St. Mark, they saw a mirror of their own dignity—and of ancient nobility.
Donatello, St. Mark
Romanesque, Gothic, or ancient Greek? Whether you divide this façade by styles or squares, its stones come alive.
Alberti, Façade of Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Three men arrive to bless Christ. Are they wise—or just rich? Better defer to that young painter in the crowd...
Dissecting Botticelli’s Adoration of the Magi
When reconstructed, the panels of this altarpiece resemble the architecture of an Italian Gothic cathedral.
Illustrating a Fifteenth-Century Italian Altarpiece
These gilded bronze doors are a masterpiece of clarity and illusionism. Space coheres, and figures move with ease.
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