The Renaissance art and architecture was humanistic and realistic. It had a new and independent outlook, came out of the clutches of the Church and became secular. Art, in particular, came closer to human life. The ‘Gothic Architecture’ which was a mixture of Greek, Roman, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian styles developed during the Renaissance. It consisted of large arches and domes, tall pillars and beautiful decorations. The structures were generally built in stone. Large Palaces, Churches, Monasteries and Public buildings were built. The famous Architects of the period were Alberti, Monetti, Brumeleschi, Brumante and Michael Angelo.

The important architectural and sculptural examples of Renaissance period are as follows,

1. Rome – The Medici and the Farnese Palaces 

2. London – The Palace of Pope Julius III 

3. Florence – The Pitti Palace 

4. London-The Banquet House in Whitehall 

5. London – St. Paul’s Cathedral 

6. Rome – St. Peter’s Cathedral 

7. Venice – St. Mark’s Cathedral 

8. Spain – Piccolomini Palace 

9. Venice – Doyage Palace 

10. Vatican – Sistine Chapel.

Sculpture : During Renaissance, sculpture was much encouraged. The famous Sculptors of the Renaissance period were Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello, Michael Angelo, and Albrecht Durer.

The following are their contributions.

1. Lorenzo Ghiberti- the carvings of the doors of the Baptistery at Florence. 

2. Donatello- ‘Statue of St. George’ in Florence, ‘Statue of St. Mark’ in Venice. 

3. Michael Angelo- The statues of‘The David’, ‘The Moses’, ‘The Pieta’ and ‘The Bounded Slave’. He also designed the Dome of the Church of St. Peter at Rome. 

4. Albrecht Durer- ‘The Knight and Death’and‘St. Jerome in his study’.

Paintings : The greatest glory of the Renaissance were its paintings. They were made on canvas, glass, wood or other materials. The technique of oil painting was mastered. Titian was. Popular for using bright colours. Popes, Kings and rich Merchants gave generous patronage to painting. The Florentine School to which Leonardo da Vinci, Michel Angelo, and Raphael belonged, became a great centre of painting. They were able to develop their genius fully. without being restricted or controlled by the rigid rules of the Church. They made a humanistic and secular approach and produced highly artistic and life-like paintings.

The important painters and their works were as follows

1. Leonardo da Vinci- ‘The Last Supper’,‘The Mona Lisa’, ‘Virgin of the Rocks’, ‘The Virgin and Child’, ‘Head of the woman’, ‘Madonna Litta’, etc. 

2. Michael Angelo- ‘The Last Judgement’, ‘The Creation of Adam’, ‘Day and Night’, ‘Dawn and Sunset’ etc. 

3. Sanzio Raphael- ‘Sistine Madonna’. 

4. Titian- ‘The Assumption of the virgin’.