Renaissance
Renaissance was a beautiful period that led to the creation of some of the greatest masterpieces our art-world was gifted with. The question often asked: Why is Florence so “artistic”, and why did the so-called “Renaissance” period begin and flourish in Florence? Theories are abundant.
The main theory is that Renaissance art flourished and reached its’ zenith in Florence because Florence was a wealthy free republic. And it was modern and forward-thinking. It also had a wealth of natural resources on hand. Add to that the fact that Florence had some of the richest families of nobility who competed with each other by commissioning art. But all explanations left aside, Renaissance would not have been possible without the genius of the artists who lived in Florence at the time.
Perhaps the best answer is because so much art of the highest quality was created by so many talented artists in this city. Florence is a gigantic museum where just about everything is preserved and remains authentic. The sheer magnitude of abundant art and architectural achievements that a viewer is presented with is what makes Florence so “artistic”.
Renaissance artists
Arnolfo di Cambio (1240-1310) architect, sculptor.
Cimabue (1240-1302) painter, designer of mosaics
Giotto (1266-1337) painter, architect
Pietro Lorenzetti (1280-1348) painter
Andrea Pisano (1290-1348) sculptor, architect
Taddeo Gaddi (1290-1366) painter, architect
Orcagna (1308-1368) Painter, sculptor, architect
Lorenzo di Bicci (1350-1427)
Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) designer, engineer, planner and construction supervisor
Masolino (1383-1447) painter
Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455) artist, goldsmith
Nanni di Banco (1384-1421) sculptor
Donatello (1386-1466) sculptor.
Fra Angelico (1395-1455) painter.
Michelozzo (1396-1472) architect, sculptor.
Paolo Uccello (1397-1475) painter mathematician.
Luca della Robbia (1400-1482) Sculptor.
Masaccio (1401-1428) painter.
Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) humanist author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher, and cryptographer.
Filippo Lippi (1406-1469) painter.
Andrea del Castagno (1421-1457) painter.
Benozzo Gozzoli (1421-1497) painter.
Antonio del Pollaiolo (1429-1498) painter, sculptor, engraver, goldsmith.
Verrochio (1435-1488) painter, sculptor, goldsmith.
Cosimo Rosselli (1439-1507) painter.
Botticelli (1445-1510) painter.
Giuliano da Sangallo (1445-1516) sculptor, architect, military engineer.
Domenico Ghirlandaio (1448-1494) painter.
Da Vinci (1452-1519) inventor, painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, botanist, scientist, writer.
Davide Ghirlandaio (1452-1525) painter, mosaicist.
Filippino Lippi (1457-1504) painter.
Lorenzo di Credi (1459-1537) painter, sculptor.
Piero di Cosimo (1462-1522) painter.
Baccio D’Agnolo (1462-1543) woodcarver, sculptor, architect.
Francesco Granacci (1469-1543) painter.
Michelangelo (1475-1564) sculptor, painter, architect.
Raphael (1483-1520) painter, architect.
Ridolfo Ghirlandaio (1483-1561) painter.
Andrea del Sarto (1486-1530) painter.
Lorenzetto (1490-1541) sculptor, architect.
Baccio Bandinelli (1493-1560) sculptor, painter, draftsman.
Pontormo (1494-1557) painter.
Rosso Fiorentino (1495-1540) painter.
Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) painter, architect, writer, historian.
This post is an homage to these great Renaissance artists. Their names link to Wikipedia for anyone wishing to learn about them.
Suggested reading
Symbols in Renaissance art HERE
Narrative art HERE
Art Social media HERE
Masterpiece HERE
Renaissance art artgreeT Blog
