Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture: Art of Early Modern Europe

When you think of the beginning of Western art, you usually think of the Renaissance. Titans such as Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo have become the icons of the Renaissance and Europe in the Early Modern period. The art that they and countless other artists created defined the time in which they lived. Their ingenuity and creativity helped drive Europe away from the Middle Ages towards a Europe that we recognize today. Conversely, the time period defines them and their art. Therefore, today we can look at the works from the Renaissance and recognize historiographic themes in them. We will look at art beginning in the Renaissance all the way up to the late 18th century when the Early Modern period ends. By doing so, we can recognize some of the themes and transformations of Early Modern Europe both in art and in history.