The Renaissance period -- that spanned roughly from the 14th century to the 17th century -- was a time for change and movement in society. The word Renaissance is derived from the Italian word “Rinascimento” meaning born again. During the Renaissance the arts went through a revolutionary change. This was depicted in their paintings and sculptures, the architecture of buildings and structures, and in their theatrical shows and music. These revolutionary changes continue to have impact on our society and modern art today. The design and creation of our modern day sculptures and paintings all come from the revolutionary thinking of the artists during the Renaissance. Paintings were revolutionized from pre Renaissance by the addition of perspective giving depth to paintings making them come to life giving an almost realistic look. Giotto, known as the “father of the Renaissance”, was the first painter recorded to use approximate perspective to bring his paintings to life and to give them depth. This technique was also used by many other Renaissance painters. One painter was Leonardo da Vinci; he is famous for painting the Mona Lisa. Today the approximate perspective technique is still used and taught in art and history classes all over the world. The sculptors of the Renaissance were
Brown 2 revolutionary as well. A good example of this is the symbolism shown in their work as well as the range of emotions carved into each piece. The most famous of these sculptors was Donatello. Emotion and symbolism is still shown with our modern sculptures and again is taught across the world. Both paintings and sculptures changed during the Renaissance period; demonstrating that the Renaissance period was a time of revolution in the arts. The design and ideas of modern architecture are influenced by the revolutionary ideas of the Renaissance architects. Architecture was revolutionized first by Filippo Brunelleschi by developing a mathematical theory of linear perspective. Brunelleschi was the first to use linear perspective or a vanishing point in architecture after it was first being used in paintings. This lead to many new designs in their structures and buildings making them harmonized, proportioned, and symmetrical. Leon Battista Alberti followed Brunelleschi’s principals to design as did many other architectural greats of the time giving us Renaissance gothic architecture. Today this concept of perspective is in our buildings and structures all over the world. Architecture went through changes during the Renaissance, revolutionizing the way architects envisioned and designed buildings; demonstrating that the arts during the Renaissance period were revolutionary. The writing and performing of modern theatre and music are influenced by the revolutionary creativity of the Renaissance playwrights and musicians. The main style of theatre used in Italy was “Commedia dell 'Arte”, meaning “the comedy of professional
Brown 3 artists”. The Renaissance revolutionized how theatre shows were performed by including various new types of genres such as history. They also revolutionized theatre by creating expensive sets and costumes to make the show more believable and realistic to life. Many of these plays are still performed and studied such as those by Shakespeare. His revolutionary ideas and storylines are still used today in movies and other types of media. The music of the Renaissance was also revolutionary. The vocal range of the people of the Renaissance expanded to higher notes. This lead to opera revolutionizing how we could listen to music at this high pitch and also compose it. Composers took interest in writing sheet music of specific instruments, they also discovered new techniques such as harmony in their compositions. The revolutionary work of the Renaissance playwrights and musicians as well as composers still exists today as their techniques and discoveries are still used. Today we learn about Shakespeare and his works all around the world. He has broadly influenced our culture, demonstrating that the arts of the Renaissance were revolutionary. This time of rebirth paved the way for the arts contributing ideas and techniques never seen before which are still used today. The paintings and sculptures, as well as the architecture of buildings and structures, and the theatrical shows and music of the Renaissance were revolutionary and has impacted our modern art today.
Bibliography
Discovery Media. "Rinascimento : Who, What, Where, When." Serving History :. http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Rinascimento (accessed September 29, 2010).

"Early Renaissance Art: Painting, Sculpture: History, Famous Artists." World Art | Encyclopedia of Visual Arts Around the World | History of Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking: Artists, Museums, Galleries, Exhibitions. http://www.visual-arts- cork.com/history-of-art/early-renaissance.htm (accessed September 29, 2010).
"ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART." WWW-VL History Central Catalogue. http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/07.html (accessed September 28, 2010).
"Italian Theatre Index." TheatreHistory.com. http://www.theatrehistory.com/italian/ (accessed September 28, 2010).
Robin. "Key Innovations and Artists of the Italian Renaissance ." http://www.robinurton.com/history/Renaissance/early_ren.htm (accessed september 28).
Discovery Media Robin
"Italian Theatre Index."
Bibliography: Discovery Media. "Rinascimento : Who, What, Where, When." Serving History :. http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Rinascimento (accessed September 29, 2010).  "Early Renaissance Art: Painting, Sculpture: History, Famous Artists." World Art | Encyclopedia of Visual Arts Around the World | History of Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking: Artists, Museums, Galleries, Exhibitions. http://www.visual-arts- cork.com/history-of-art/early-renaissance.htm (accessed September 29, 2010). "ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ART." WWW-VL History Central Catalogue. http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/07.html (accessed September 28, 2010). "Italian Theatre Index." TheatreHistory.com. http://www.theatrehistory.com/italian/ (accessed September 28, 2010). Robin. "Key Innovations and Artists of the Italian Renaissance ." http://www.robinurton.com/history/Renaissance/early_ren.htm (accessed september 28). Discovery Media Robin "Italian Theatre Index."
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