Art

Pitti Palace, façade

During the Renaissance period, architecture reverted to symmetrical designs with pillars and ornate facades. Filippo Brunelleschi, the greatest early Renaissance architect, designed the Pitti Palace and numerous churches in Florence. The Medici Palace in Florence, designed by Michelozzo, is an impressive example of houses built during that time period.

Michelangeo's David in the Gallery of the Academy

Art, for the first time, was able to become independent of architecture. Like architecture though, it also returned to classical Greek and Roman design. Sculptors once again created nude human form beginning with Donatello and culminating with Michelangelo's David (image from the International Symposium on Acoustical Imaging; used with permission). Paintings reflected humanism and began to show the subject's emotion as well as his appearance.

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This image comes from the Sistine Chapel; used with permission.

This period created many great artists, who were hired to do important works outside of Florence. Michelangelo painted the ceiling in the Church of St. Peter in Rome. These artists also helped further human anatomy because of their thorough examinations and studies.

Return to Florence