The Renaissance was not simply the recovery of classical Greek and Roman texts. It was a dynamic transformation of medieval intellectual culture. Medieval intellectuals had never given up on classical antiquity. Ancient texts formed a foundation for medieval education. What changed at the Renaissance was not the availability of classical texts, but the way people read them.
Myth: Renaissance Artists Rediscovered Perspective and Naturalism
The development of perspective and naturalism in Renaissance art had roots in the 13th century. During high Gothic centuries, new techniques such as naturalistic drapery, precise modeling, and a consistent treatment of light opened the way for the further advance that we see in the early 15th century.
Myth: Renaissance Was Secular
Renaissance culture is characterized by a profound spiritual renewal. Renaissance artists and thinkers were deeply invested in Christian ideas and the exploration of humanity’s place in God’s creation.
Myth: Renaissance Was Italian
Although Italy held a predominant place in Renaissance studies, the movement spanned all across Western Europe. Flemish painting, German and French woodcuts, and English literature contributed greatly to the vitality and diversity of Renaissance culture.
Myth: Renaissance Was A Sudden Burst of Creativity
The transition between medieval and Renaissance culture did not happen abruptly, but unfolded gradually over a course of two centuries. The Renaissance started with the development of Humanism, which was inspired by the classical traditions of eloquence and ethics, and gradually transformed art, literature, philosophy, and spirituality across Europe.