There are many artists of the Italian Renaissance, but there are a few that really standout. This will hopefully let you understand more about different artists.

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was full of suprises. He could do almost everything. Da Vinci sang, played the lyre, and made his own beautiful instuments. He rode horses and they said he could bend a horseshoe with his hands. The name " da Vinci" also means Vici, Italy. Besides being an artist he was an architect, inventor, and scientist. He is famous for "The Mona Lisa" and "Lady with an Ermine". He also painted the "Last Supper".

Fra Angelico

Fra Angelico was born near Florence. He was named Guido di Piero. He changed it when he became a Dominican frair. He was one of the greatest painters of the fifteenth century. When he died people called him Fra Angelico because he and his paintings were so angelic. They were soft in color. He did not start painting until he the 1420's. He is famous for "Christ in Limbo"and "The Last Judgement".

Sandro Bottecelli

Bottecelli's real name was Sandro Fillipepi. Bottecelli means "little barrels". He had a delicate-like style of painting which made him very well known. He was famous for "The Birth of Venus". People travel all around the world just to see "The Birth of Venus". He is also famous for "The Trials of Moses" and "The Primevara".

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Michelangelo was known as a painter and sculptor. Michelangelo used the human body to express emotions. He is known for "The David" which is a sculptor and "The Sistine Chapel" which is a lot of paintings on the ceiling of a chapel in the Vatican City. He made each painting eighteen feet long so people sixty feet below were able to see it. He is famous for "The Holy Family" and "The Last Judgement".

Raphael Sanzio

Raphael grew up surrounded by art and music. Raphael learned how to paint almost as soon as he could hold paints and a paintbrush. When he was only eleven-years-old he became a orphan. He was famous for "St. George and the Dragon", "Alba Madonna", and "Virgin of the Goldfinch".