Because it reflected the personalities of many people.
Churches and convents were the ones that commissioned most paintings. Some wealthy people did, too, and they liked to give the impression of being religious.
The art of the Italian and Northern Renaissance shared similar qualities, but also had its differences. As the Italian Renaissance focused more on a rebirth of classic Greco-Roman culture, the art of the time was based off of classical mythology and included famous classic philosophers. In Raphael's School of Athens, Aristotle and Plato are featured in the center of the school. On the contrary, the Northern Renaissance art was characterized by domestic interiors and portraits. Northern Renaissance artists, starting with Jan Van Eyck, began to use different mediums, such as oil paint, to create the art of the movement. The two different eras share a commonality in art through religious themes throughout the art. Christian religious stories and figures were the predominant artistic theme in both times.
the religious theme
most of his artwork i think reflected his religious beliefs,some say that the mona Lisa was actually him in womens clothing or that he has hidden messages,he might have put hidden meanings in the artwork but maybe not messages llike saying the truth of where something is hidden or whatever, i think they just reflected hid beilefs.
Most of the subjects he painted had a Christian theme but there are a few, like the Mona Lisa portrait, that were not religious in nature.
country western theme, pop star theme, vampire theme, harry potter theme, camping theme, beach/Hawaiian theme, decade themes (ie. 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s theme, etc), sports theme...
Basically they were 2-D and were inaccurate and they were obviously based on a religious theme=> this is the PRE- Renaissance
Religious themes were by far the most popular theme during the Renaissance. So, the work of pretty much all Renaissance artist used religious themes in their work. But to get you started, I'll say: Giotto, Fra Filippo Lippi (father), Filippino Lippi (son), Fra Angelico, Donatello, Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, etc.
They featured more realism and emotion
The paintings of the Renaissance are less likely to emphasize everyday people and ordinary subjects. The subject matter is usually religious or along the lines of a grand theme.
The theme of racial pride, identity, and cultural expression is closely related to the Harlem Renaissance. This cultural movement helped to celebrate African American literature, music, art, and intellect during the 1920s and 1930s.
The Renaissance, was a huge cultural change in the medieval world, that stemmed from Italy. After the black plague, which caused widespread death, there was a huge shift in the way people thought. One result was the emergence of humanist philosophers and artists, who led the Renaissance movement. The humanists of the Renaissance, in their artwork, literature, and philosophies placed an emphasis on individual people, which was the main theme of the Renaissance. This also led to a rebirth, of classical Greek and Roman culture, and many of the artworks of the Renaissance era had resemblances to classical artwork, such as the famous statue David.
Northern Renaissance versus Italian Renaissance Italian Renaissance's main medium were Frescos. In Northern Europe, they used oil. (See DaVinci's "The Last Supper" and Jan Van Eyck's "Arnolfini Wedding") During the Reformation and Counter Reformation, Italian painters made Catholic Church commissioned paintings. In the North, the paintings had far more secular subjects, and they had darker religious themes (if indeed the subject were religious). See artists/architects: Italian Renaissance Artists: Giotto, Donatello, Ghiberti, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Boticelli, DaVinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Palladio, Caravaggio, Gentileschi*, Bernini* Non-Italian Renaissance Artists: Limbourg Brothers, Christine de Pizan, Campin, Van der Weyden, Durer, Grunewald, Bosch, Bruegel, Rubens*, Rembrant*, Vermeer* * indicates a post Renaissance theme (Mannarism, Baroque, etc)
The Harlem Renaissance is most closely related to the theme of African American cultural revival and artistic expression. It was a flourishing of African American culture in the arts, literature, music, and social activism during the 1920s and 1930s in Harlem, New York. Participants aimed to challenge racism and stereotypes while celebrating their heritage and achievements.
The word "Renaissance" literally means rebirth. Renaissance periods are marked by a flourish of new inventions, new ideas, and revolutions in thinking. The most famous example is the Italian Renaissance.
Art with a religious theme.
The Isenheim Altarpiece, created by Matthias Grรผnewald, differs from other artworks of the same period due to its intense and emotional depiction of suffering, particularly in the crucifixion scenes. The altarpiece's focus on the theme of pain and redemption sets it apart from other Renaissance art that tended to idealize figures and scenes. Additionally, the altarpiece's striking use of color and detail, as well as its innovative folding panels, also distinguish it from contemporary works.
theme of religious upheaval