Okuzeka
Art & Art History vocabulary · Movements & Periods

Renaissance

Meaning in art & art history, with examples

/ˈrenəsɑːns/nounCore term

In art & art history, Renaissance means: The period in European history, roughly from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century, when art and learning were renewed by a strong interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture.

In Turkish: Rönesans

How it is used

Always capitalised and usually used with the: the Renaissance. Art historians speak of the Early, High and Northern Renaissance; leading names include Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Dürer. It is also used before nouns: Renaissance art, a Renaissance palace.

Example sentences

  1. The Renaissance began in Italian cities such as Florence before spreading north.

  2. Renaissance painters studied anatomy to make their figures more lifelike.

Common collocations

  • the Italian Renaissance
  • the High Renaissance
  • the Northern Renaissance
  • Renaissance art
  • perspectiveA method of showing depth and distance on a flat surface, for example by making parallel lines meet at a point and painting distant things smaller.
  • frescoA way of painting walls or ceilings with water-based pigments on fresh, wet lime plaster, so the colours become part of the wall as it dries; also a painting made like this.
  • patronA person or organisation that supports artists, usually by paying for works or giving regular financial help; historically, often a ruler, a church or a wealthy family.
  • BaroqueThe style of European art and architecture from about 1600 to 1750, known for drama, movement, strong light and emotion, as in the work of Caravaggio, Rubens and Bernini.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Movements & Periods

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: