High RenaissanceVisual AnalysisIntroduction Generally thought to have begun in Florence, the Renaissance – also known as the “Renaissance” – was a period of renewed interest in art classic and the beginning of the scientific revolution. The Renaissance period did not begin abruptly; rather, it is an idea that has taken shape since the time of the painter Giotto (Gombrich 2007). During the early Renaissance, Giotto experimented and laid the foundations for painting with perspective, a method that would be refined and perfected by later painters and sculptors. The end of the 15th century is known as the High Renaissance. It was the peak of artistic innovations, techniques and productions. The height of the Renaissance period came in the form of Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who were the most famous artists of the time. Artworks produced during this era contain characteristics of geometric simplicity, harmony and balance to compositional designs that are not only depicted in paintings, but also in sculpture and architecture. I will present my observation of the above-mentioned characteristics in this essay through the analysis of selected works of art by the three great masters of the High Renaissance. Historically, almost all paintings and artwork from the Renaissance period are influenced by religion and humanism. Two famous works of art that reflect this are The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci and The School of Athens by Raphael. Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper Among the many works of art of Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper is considered one of his greatest masterpieces even until today. The Last Supper is a fresco that designed the wall of the dining room of a monastery in Milan (Fichn...... middle of paper ....... London and New York: Phaidon.Encyclopædia Britannica Online, sv “Leonardo da Vinci”, accessed May 26, 2014, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/336408/Leonardo-da-VinciEncyclopædia Britannica Online, sv “Mona Lisa”, accessed May 27, 2014, http : //www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/388735/Mona-Lisa.Encyclopædia Britannica Online, sv “Western painting”, accessed May 27, 2014, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438648 / Western-painting.Paolucci, Antonio. Italian Renaissance, sv ““David by Michelangelo”, accessed May 25, 2014, http://www.italianrenaissance.org/michelangelos-david.Treasures of the World, sv “The masterful technique of Leonardo”, accessed May 26, 2014, http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/mona_lisa/mlevel_1/m3technique.htmlTotally History, sv “Mona Lisa”, accessed May 26, 2014, http://totallyhistory .com/mona-lisa.