• The Renaissance or “rebirth” is a cultural movement that began in Italy in the late 14th century and extended until the early 17th century. • The Renaissance was a bridge that allowed Western Europe to move from the medieval era to the modern era. The Renaissance then spread to other regions of Europe. • Technological advancements allowed art and architecture to flourish during the Renaissance era. • Cities like Florence in Italy saw an influx of artists and architects who moved from simple paid skilled workers to professional artists. • The word Renaissance referred to the rebirth of ancient classical art from Greco-Roman culture. • This worked well for the Italians because the legacy of the Roman Empire was all around them, from monuments to statues. His work demonstrated the intellectuality of his designs. His compositions were monumental. His work embodies a high degree of naturalism. • The generations that succeeded him pushed research and innovation to create a linear perspective of painting with the integration of human anatomy which led to the discovery of a scientific style of naturalism. • Italian Renaissance architects were influenced by classical Roman architecture. This was also motivated by a revival of classical literature seen in humanism. • Architects traveled to Rome and studied the remains and ruins of ancient Roman buildings, coliseums, and pantheons. Arches, pilasters, columns, pediments, domes and entablatures were some of the elements inherited from classical Roman architecture. Architects were also influenced by the writing of Vitruvius. • Mathematical measurement and harmonious form characterized Renaissance architecture. • During the Renaissance, architects hoped to create structures that would appeal to reason and emotion. • Some of the most notable figures in Renaissance architecture were Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista.