The Golden Age Of Art

While you're likely familiar with big names like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo (no thanks to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), there are plenty of other talented artists to come from the Renaissance. Whether they were painters, sculptors, or woodworkers, their artistic capabilities continue to amaze generations. Here are 20 of the greatest artists that came from this time.

 Leonardo da Vinci  (1452–1519) &  Leonardo da Vinci  (1452–1519) on Wikimedia Commons

1. Leonardo da Vinci

There isn't a person on this planet who hasn't heard of Leonardo da Vinci and his iconic paintings. The Mona Lisa is arguably the most recognizable piece of art in all of history, best known for her mysterious smile. Other famous works of this amazing artist include The Last Supper and the Vitruvian Man. 

Zach Dyson on Unsplash

2. Michelangelo

If you love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you're going to love the first four artists on this list. Following da Vinci is Michelangelo, the brilliant artist credited with painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This huge endeavor took him four years to complete but it was definitely worth every second. He's now forever etched in history as one of the greatest artists to ever live. 

Dominika Gregušová on Pexels

3. Donatello

This Italian sculptor has created many beautiful models in the past, but the one everyone has heard of is the bronze David. Donatello was always praised for his ability to work with various materials including marble, stone, bronze, wood, and many more. Combined with his creative mind, what he was able to produce was extraordinary.

Original uploader was Frieda (dillo a Ubi) at it.wikipedia on Wikimedia

4. Raphael

Creating the most detailed and intricate paintings, four whole rooms are dedicated to his works in the Vatican Museums. Some of his most famous art pieces include The School of Athens and The Sistine Madonna. Because of his amazing skill and charm, Raphael was even given the nickname "prince of painters." 

Pixabay on Pexels

5. Titian

Creating many different types of paintings, from portraits to landscapes, Titian has always been praised for his versatility. This Italian painter is highly regarded for his brushwork and color palette, something many say has had a large influence on future artists. His most well-known pieces include Venus of Urbino and Bacchus and Ariadne. 

Titian on Wikimedia

6. Jan van Eyck

Said to be one of the most influential artists during the Early Northern Renaissance, Jan van Eyck was a Flemish painter that is known for innovating the way oil paint was used. So much so that there's a common misconception that he invented it! His best works include the Arnolfini Portrait and Leal Souvenir. 

Jan van Eyck on Wikimedia

7. Hieronymus Bosch

This well-known Dutch Renaissance painter primarily worked with oil on oak wood and mainly focused on religious pieces such as the The Garden of Earthly Delights and The Last Judgment. His ability to tell a story through his paintings led to him being seen as one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance.  

Hieronymus Bosch on Wikimedia

8. Caravaggio

Active mainly in Rome for the duration of his life, Caravaggio was a beloved Italian painter known for his shockingly realistic artwork. He had a very important role in influencing Baroque art, thanks to his ability to contrast light and dark. His most notable paintings include The Calling of Saint Matthew and Narcissus. 

Ottavio Leoni on Wikimedia

9. Masaccio

Able to paint extraordinarily lifelike people and portray movement in an amazingly realistic way, Masaccio has been deemed one of the greatest painters of his generation. HIs work didn't just influence modern painters, he also made a great impression on his fellow artists during his time. He sadly passed away very young, at just 26 years old, leaving behind several great pieces like The Tribute Money and the Holy Trinity. 

Masaccio on Wikimedia

10. Giorgio Vasari

Funnily enough, though Giorgio Vasari was an excellent artist, one of his most known works is a biography titled Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects. We sure hope he put himself on the list though, as he was highly regarded for his Mannerist paintings. The Six Tuscan Poets and the Portrait of Lorenzo de'Medici are just some examples of his amazing work. 

Attributed to Jacopo Zucchi on Wikimedia

11. Fra Angelico

Described by Giorgio Vasari as having "a rare and perfect talent" in the biography we just mentioned, this is incredibly high praise that reflects his talent. A few paintings he's best known for include the Annuciation and San Marco Altarpiece.

Fra Angelico on Wikimedia

12. Paolo Veronese

This Italian Renaissance artist created the most stunning historic paintings around religion and mythology. His art pieces like The Feast in the House of Levi and The Wedding at Cana show his splendid ability to work with color and flawless brushwork. It's said that he was very influenced by Titian, another artist already mentioned earlier. 

Krzysztof Golik on Wikimedia

13. Tintoretto

Known for painting with shocking speed (for which he was also criticized), Tintoretto was given the nickname "il Furiosi" which translates from Italian to "the Furious." His work was typically done in the Mannerist style, including paintings like Last Supper, Miracle of the Slave, and The Origin of the Milky Way. 

Jacopo Tintoretto on Wikimedia

14. Carlo Crivelli

With amazing paintings still be revered today like the Madonna of the Swallow and Saint Thomas Aquinas, Carlo Crivelli was an artist with a very distinct and personal style. Though not much is known about him, it's clear that he was very talented and followed an International Gothic style in his art. 

Carlo Crivelli on Wikimedia

15. Sandro Boticelli

As one of the most highly regarded artists in Italy, you're going to be familiar with some of his paintings. Did you know Boticelli was the one who created the Birth of Venus, an incredibly iconic piece of art? Though he did use religious subjects as inspiration for some of his works, he's best known for his artwork featuring mythological beings. 

Sandro Botticelli on Wikimedia

16. Matthias Grünewald

Going against the grain to paint in a style that he enjoyed, Matthias Grünewald continued to create art in a medieval Central European style. Though many of his artworks were lost at sea (unfortunately), ten paintings and thirty-five drawings were successfully recovered, all of which were found to be religious. 

Matthias Grünewald on Wikimedia

17. El Greco

Doménikos Theotokópoulos, better known as El Greco, wasn't just a painter, he was also an architect and sculptor. Though some of his more dramatic pieces weren't received well during his time, 20th century art lovers were able to appreciate his unique creativity. Some of his greatest works include Portrait of a Gentleman and The Adoration of the Shepherds.

El Greco and workshop on Wikimedia

18. Sofonisba Anguissola

As the only female artist on this list, Sofonisba Anguissola was an Italian Renassiance painter that made her way to fame with portraits of herself and her family. This interesting approach to art definitely made her stand out. You can now see many of her paintings and portraits in numerous galleries across the globe. 

Unknown author on Wikimedia

19. Hans Holbein the Younger

Known for his work with creating portraits, Hans Holbein the Younger was seen as the greatest in this genre of art. From The Ambassadors to the Portrait of Henry VIII, he was able to capture each person with an amazing amount of realism. His paintings were incredibly respected because of their amazing likeness. 

Hans Holbein the Younger on Wikimedia

20. Albrecht Dürer

Compared to the others who made a name for themselves mainly through sculpting and painting, Albrecht Dürer was a Germany artist who found his way to fame in a different method. Known for his amazingly high quality woodcut prints, he was considered a master when it came to woodcuts and engravings. 

After Albrecht Dürer on Wikimedia