Which of the following periods that were discussed so far piqued your attention? Why?

There are many highly interesting periods of art to learn about, but among the fascinating
periods that have been discussed so far, the Renaissance period piqued my attention. Apparently,
because personally, I believe that the Renaissance period is remembered and marked throughout
history as a significant period of change that stands out among all the ages. Imagine a world without
books, newspapers, beautiful paintings, art, carvings, and sculptures, as well as technology. In
short, consider a world completely void of civilization. Isn't it boring? A lot of what we experience today
in terms of art, architecture, and music is the result of a European revolution; a rebirth and a time when
the world changed, with Italy as its cradle, the Renaissance.

                The Renaissance period was fascinating and significant to me because it laid the foundation for
the age of exploration and eventual European global dominance. The revival of European interest in art,
exploration, and technology occurred at precisely the right moment in history.  Besides that, the level of
artistic and architectural production during this period is exceptional, so much so that works created
during the Renaissance continue to captivate the public imagination centuries later. This can be seen in
the art, literature, and politics of the time, all of which have had an impact on how we live today. While
scholars may disagree on the precise date of the Renaissance, there is little doubt that the events of the
period resulted in advancements that changed people's perceptions of the world around them. It led to
the rise of geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci, Rene Descartes, Galileo, Dante, Milton, Shakespeare,
Michelangelo, and others to prominence. These individuals are still commended and credited for
creating some of the greatest works of art and ideas ever created.

   During this time period, famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael,
Botticelli, and Donatello all created their famous masterpieces. Leonardo da Vinci is best known for his
incredible world-famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, despite being an
inventor, scientist, writer, and more. Michelangelo is widely regarded for some of Italy's most valuable
treasures, including the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Other incredible renaissance men that were
talented in astronomy, philosophy, writing, and exploration include household names Galileo,
Shakespeare, and Columbus. A theme which modern scholars find so interesting about the era is that art
and science seemed to fuse together, almost seamlessly at times. Da Vinci, for example, incorporated
scientific principles such as anatomy into his work, so he could recreate the human body with
extraordinary precision. Artists also incorporated techniques like perspective into their work to add to
their realism, adding depth and emotion.

                Moreover, I admire the Renaissance arts because they reflected the new humanist philosophy.
It managed to capture the individual's role by displaying genuine emotion. This placed a greater
emphasis on the worldly concerns of the human mind and spirit than had previously been the case.  Just
like Leonardo da Vinci, one of my favorite Renaissance artists, is often regarded as the living
embodiment of Renaissance humanist ideals. Though Leonardo was a master of many different types of
art, he is best known for his paintings, which include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, two of the
most well-known and parodied works in history. Not many people know that he was more than just a
painter. He was also a sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor,
anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer, and the most amazing thing is that he was good
at all of those skills. He was an extremely well-rounded man and that is why I consider him as one of the
greatest artists of all times. Truly, I can say that Renaissance art had an intellectual and cerebral
component that influenced later generations of artists, and I believe it was beneficial to later
generations of artists who also sought to represent windows into human desires and character.

                In addition, Renaissance art aimed to communicate directly with the audience. It was designed
to immerse the viewer right into the action. Sculptures became freestanding objects that could be
viewed from all sides during the Renaissance. In order to depict a lifelike scene, paintings of the time
used depth, perspective, and scale. The subjects of sculpture and painting often look directly at the
viewer or at an unseen part of their story with an expression that is meant to be interpreted. These
often necessitated long hours of study by the artists in order to achieve their dynamic methods of
display.

Overall, I consider the Renaissance period to be one of the most fascinating and relevant periods
in history, that completely revitalized the entire concept of art not only in Europe but throughout
different parts of the world. It expanded beyond the solely religious function of medieval art. It reflected
a new humanist philosophy, and it came into contact with its audience in a fresh, natural way that had
never been done before since the end of the classical period. Indeed, the Renaissance period was a time
when the human mind was rejuvenated through new aesthetic dimensions and ideals.

Our world today would be very different if the Renaissance had not made significant advances in
the field of art. Without the Renaissance, art would have become a lesser form of self-expression
because during the Renaissance, it began to flourish and take several different forms. Artists developed
techniques that allowed the viewer and the artists to connect more, such as perspective and realism.
Without the introduction of these styles, the extent of our knowledge in art would have decreased. Art
is the building block of our creativity, one which can be shaped in any way we please. It breaks down
borders and barriers to allow us to communicate and express ourselves betters. In the Renaissance, art
represented culture, ideas, religion, and knowledge, all of which we still paint today.