The Early Renaissance marked a period of rebirth in many areas.
The Early Renaissance began in Florence, Italy, and marked a period of rebirth in classical art. Artists embraced the new spirit of humanism. Reason and science began to take over from the theology and focus on supernatural revelation of the Middle Ages. This new philosophy was reflected in paintings, as artists emphasized realism in their work. Some influential painters from the Early Renaissance were Giotto di Bondone, Tommaso Guidi -- also called Massacio -- and Fra Angelico.
Three-Dimensional Imagery
Giotto was one of the first artists of the early Renaissance to feature three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane. They were drawn and arranged in order to tell a story. The three-dimensional effect created a sense of movement and time. This was in stark contrast to the stiff, supernatural type of art created during the Middle Ages.
Realism
Artists during this time period aimed to paint realistic clothing and facial expressions. They studied the effects of shadow, light and space in order to translate the real world onto canvas. They also closely observed natural phenomenon and situations, though they tended to attribute greater beauty and significance than what was actually found in nature . During the Middle Ages, only the church was rich enough to commission paintings, so most of the art featured religious scenes. Although they continued to depict religious scenery, Early Renaissance artists also featured real people in real situations.
Proportion
According to "Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics and Science" by Marvin Perry, Renaissance painters were very aware of proportion, balance and harmony. They began to use models and studied the proportions of the human body.
Mythology
The Early Renaissance brought a renewed interest in old mythology, particularly Greek and Roman. After the fall of Constantinople, many scholars migrated to Rome and brought their knowledge of the old religions with them. While Christianity still played an important role in art, it was joined by mythology and secular ideas.
Medium
During the Middle Ages, artists used egg tempera, paint made from pigment, egg yolk and water. This medium changed during the Early Renaissance as artists switched to using oil-based paints, which involved mixing pigment with linseed oil.
