The Renaissance period was one of the most exciting and innovative in Western art. Many of the world's greatest artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Van Eyck, Durer, and Holbein created their masterpieces during this era. This panoramic survey of the period traces the complex development of ideas on perspective, expression, composition, color, and iconography as they relate to the historical events and personalities of the age. Florence's Medici family, the Valois of France, and the Holy Roman Emperors in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands were patrons of these celebrated artists. Patronage and the social and political impulses behind it provide an enormous amount of information about the schools, movements, and artists of the age. The 200 stunning color photographs showcase the art for which this period of rebirth is recognized.