Secularism is a general tendency to discuss human relationships – private and public – independently of religious values, customs and institutions.

During the Renaissance most of the art and architecture were commissioned by the Catholic Church, which its main intent was to promote its doctrine; being holder of great resources and riches soon became impossible to separate art from theology.  When easel painting grew in popularity, it helped to increase private commissions, releasing artists from producing “religious” art and that was when Secularism was born.

Important contemporary events, with a focus on prominent public figures, provided an obvious source of secular subject matter during the Renaissance.  Other factor in the secularization of Renaissance art include: urbanization; the consolidation of secular power; increasing wealth which created new patrons for the arts; and the steady growth of a market in art which explored Classical themes, imagery and principles. This secular trend flourished a century later in the Baroque era.

Some of the Artists:

• Leon Battista Alberti
• Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio
• Sandro Botticelli
• Donato Bramante
• Filippo Brunelleschi
• Vittore Carpaccio
• Donatello
• Giorgione
• Andrea Mantegna
• Michelangelo Buonarroti
• Sebastiano Del Piombo
• Titan

Classicism (neoclassicism) was heavily influenced by the art of the classical antiquity. The artists wanted to distance themselves from the middle ages cultural decline, they started to study the ancient societies and became particularly fascinated with the values of classical Greek and Roman art.

Renaissance Classicism is also characterized by a revival of classical subject matter such as mythological, religious and historical figures. And because of it we are able to appreciate (today) many of art works majestically portraying classical scenes from the bible.

Classical art is renowned for its harmony, balance, correct proportions, lifelikeness and its sense of movement, all of which assist to attain absolute grace and beauty.  Some artists even made use of mathematical rations to achieve a symmetrical and unified design.  The movement helped to resuscitate the belief that nature is governed by rational laws which we can apply to our own creations; combining science, mathematics and art once more.

Some of the Artists:

• Leon Battista Alberti
• Sandro Botticelli
• Donato Bramante
• Filippo Brunelleschi
• Donatello
• Andrea Mantegna
• Masaccio
• Michelangelo
• Raphael
• Perugino
• Titian

Usually known as International Gothic, this was an elegant variant of Gothic art which was current in Western Europe between c. 1375 and c. 1425. Both are characterized by their emphasis on decoration, pattern and colour.

Lacking a coherent theory of perspective, figures and objects in Gothic art are usually arranged for decorative effect rather than to give the impression that they inhabit “real” space.  Distortions of size and scale are common in all forms of Gothic art.  The most typical feature is the tendency to give central figures, such as kings, queens, Christ or the Virgn Mary, larger bodies than others, considered less important ones.

Like most movements of its time, it focus on religious and divine matters.  It is also described as “self-conscious” in comparison to the art of the Renaissance; at its best, international Gothic style combines decorative designs, rich colors, and poetic details, often with lavish use of gold.

Some of the Artists:

• Fra Angelico
• Jacopo Di Cione
• Gentile De Fabriano
• Limbourg Brothers
• Lorenzo Monaco
• Giovanni Dei Grassi
• Pisanello
• Giovanni Dal Ponte