Art Pieces that Defined the Early Renaissance

When we think about the Renaissance, we most often associate it with art. The Early Renaissance, in particular, saw a lot of innovation from famous artists and architects, such as Donatello and Brunelleschi. Here are just a few of the most important pieces of art from the Early Renaissance.

Social Media:

[adrienne]

I love these Renaissance videos. Your love of history shines through. By the way, Ghiberti is pronounced with a hard “g” and the accent is on the second syllable.

[charmainesaliba]

Really enjoyed this video, I love Italy and the Italian culture. Here in Malta we are lucky enough to have one of Michelangelo paintings the " Beheaded of Saint John the Baptist, and also Saint Jerome both are breathtaking.

[theodorerhodes]

aaa it's so stunning! art history is one of the things that i've always wanted to know more about, but never had the time to investigate or prioritise over my. million other interests

[louise]

Thank you so much for your work and dedication to making such high quality content, Jennifer!

[takingteawithcatherine]

Love this! Looking forward to more Renaissance videos!
I'm a fan of The Arnolfini portrait, mainly because my Dad was so enthusiastic about it. But the Ghent altarpiece is beyond words. I read Stealing the Mystic Lamb a number of years ago and have wanted to see it since then.

[theproseandcons]

Jennifer, your Renaissance series is so freaking cool. Honestly you are so smart and I love listening to you talk about stuff! This was awesome (but your videos usually are 😄)

[dariostevens]

Great video and very original topic!
I love Renaissance art.

[takeflightinreading]

For years it had been a dream to go to Italy and see all the artworks and buildings, finally, the trip was booked for Spring 2020. In fall 2019, winter 2020, my TBR was solely related to Italy whether fiction or non-fiction. Of course, when the pandemic hit, all plans went awry, I was reading, at that time, Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King. Out of disappointment, I stopped reading it, and I keep meaning to go back to it. Thank you for the video!

[ConnorStompanato]

the florence baptistery doors are beautiful! the david statue is also really interesting i think, it feels very unique and more lifelike than michelangelo's david which looks like a god to me in how perfect it is. really interesting video!

[taylorrae]

Wow, I love the Mary in the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Definitely going to look that up. This was so interesting!

[svea]

This was a wonderful video! Mary in the altar piece really looks stunning 😍 now I want to go back to my copy of Vasari haha. I've been wanting to visit Italy (Florence in particular) for years now, and after this video the need feels even more acute😂

[Leebearify]

Thank you so much for this!! It was absolutely wonderful, I learned a great deal. Now I will watch it again and take notes !!

[AmandaJHMorton]

This is a great video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge of these beautiful pieces of art. I love the Duomo. When I was growing up we watched the movie While You Were Sleeping over and over. The main character Lucy has always wanted to go to Florence and gets a snowglobe with the Duomo in it. That made me feel a need to go to Florence to see the Duomo. I've only been to Florence once but you are right about always needing an excuse to go back.

[dillardlester]

Hello Jennifer. I don't know a lot about the Italian Renaissance so this is interesting. Not long ago I read The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone. It's a novel about Michelangelo so it's a little later than what you're talking about here. But it speaks of him studying these earlier works, especially the doors and the dome. I can't help but wonder what impact living in a city that had such art in the churches, in the public spaces, had on the people living and working there. Here where I live they recently built a new grade school. It has all the charm of a concentration camp and I wonder, "would it have cost so much more to build a school that may inspire something more than dread in the students?" Where is Lorenzo the Magnificent when you need him?

[josmith]

This was so fascinating I think I could have handled a three hour version!