The Renaissance was considered to be a great period of change in the culture and
society of Western Europe. The Renaissance started in Italy and slowly spread
throughout Europe. The church was still a major political, social and economic
power as well as primary patron of the arts. An emerging middle class began to
question the old foundations. Education, especially the literary aspects began
to enlighten the people. Literature, became more available as a result of the
printing press. Individual achievement, scientific inquiry and new wealth set
the stage for the Renaissance to match and even surpass Classical Greece and
Rome. Advancement from the Medieval into the Renaissance era occurred primarily
directly effecting art, literature, the sciences, and the revolution of the
church. One of the most prominent changes in the aspects of society was the way
in which art was now depicted. In the Medieval times no expression appeared on
the faces of individuals because we were all a reflection of God. God's children
and peoples clothes were all painted the same color. (Example, site reading)
Renaissance sculptures were proportioned to the human body and dramatic results
were achieved as did Michelangelo with his prized David. The main employer of
artists and painters was the Church or the Pope.(example, site reading). With
the transition of time to the Renaissance, more people were now working (site
reading), and had money, so they became the employer. The term used to describe
this was known as patronage. Art or realism changed as a result of the buyers or
purchasers of the works being people other than true representatives of the
Pope. Expressions of art, realism, was now depicted in the works of artists. In
their faces are seen love, fear, wrath, or even sorrow, at not being able to
understand the meaning of Christ.(Vasari, P.243) Other Renaissance pieces
included works in sculpture and in clay. These pieces portrayed some heads of
women that were smiling and some heads of boys that were issued from the hand of
a master. Also introduced in this era was many drawings of ground plans and
other designs of buildings, as well as designs of industrials mills and engines.
( Vasari, P.241) This helped set the stage for the modernization of Western