Interior of Arena Chapel

This module addresses the art of Greco-Roman antiquity and its influences on the Italian Proto-Renaissance primarily taking place in central Italy. Italy instantly became the epicenter of the cultural revolution due to a confluence of events beginning with Dante's writings in the mother tongue of working class Italians. Traditionally, literature was written in Latin or German depending on its location. Dante's decision to deviate from tradition made pivotal works of literature available to the masses. The Renaissance was conceived to be a "rebirth" of Classical ideals and values, which coincides with Dante's influences. The revival of Humanism was apparent in literature, art, architecture, and civic actions.

2006 Photo taken in Siena while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Scroll down for other viewpoints of the Palazzo Pubblico.

In this photo you can see an exterior view of Siena Cathedral. Its hallmark is the geometric patterning on both the exterior and interior. Visit the museum link to further explore the permanent collection of the cathedral which is includes Duccio's Maesta Altarpiece.

This photo shows the entrance into the Uffizi Gallery. "Uffizi" meaning "Offices" describes the original function of the structure- a municipal office building during the rule of the Medici Family. Visit the museum link to further explore the Uffizi's collection and additional information about the Vasari Corridor.

The Palazzo Vecchio or "Old Palace" was built by Arnolfo di Cambio (the same architect as the Florence Cathedral) in 1299. It served as the main palace and seat of Municipality for many generations of rules including the Medici family, before their subsequent move to the Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Medici-Riccardi. To this day, the palace is still in use as a municipal building. In fact, citizens of Florence will see frequent the building to obtain documents such as a drivers or marriage license. Scroll down to see other images of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Did you know that a painting attributed to Cimabue was discovered as recently as 2019? According to the New York Times, the tempera on panel work, “Christ Mocked,” sold at auction for almost $27 million in October 2019. The unsigned work was discovered in a Frenchwoman’s home, where it had hung in her kitchen for many years. The woman and her family thought it was a Byzantine icon until an auctioneer who had visited her home to look at furniture suggested the piece undergo further testing. Upon further inspection the work was attributed to Cimabue and is believed to belong to a larger altarpiece. The artwork underwent extensive testing, and one of the findings included matching wormholes between the wood panel and altarpiece. “Christ Mocked” sold for a total of $26.8 million, the highest auction price paid for a medieval painting.