Renaissance Vocabulary

Front

A period of cultural, artistic, political, and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages, typically dated from the 14th to the 17th century.

Back

Renaissance

Front

A Renaissance intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements, emphasizing classical learning and individualism.

Back

Humanism

Front

A person who supports artists, especially financially, which helped art and culture flourish during the Renaissance.

Back

Patron

Front

An artistic technique used to create the appearance of three dimensions on a flat surface, revolutionizing Renaissance art.

Back

perspective

Front

A focus on worldly, non-religious subjects, as seen in much of Renaissance thought and art.

Back

Humanism

Front

An independent, self-governing city, such as Florence or Venice, that played a key role in Renaissance Italy.

Back

City-state

Front

A painting done on wet plaster, commonly used during the Renaissance to decorate walls and ceilings.

Back

Fresco

Front

The everyday language of ordinary people, which many Renaissance writers used instead of Latin.

Back

Vernacular

Front

An Italian city that was a major center of Renaissance art, culture, and finance.

Back

Florence

Front

A famous Renaissance artist known for his sculptures (such as "David") and his painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Back

Michelangelo