The Renaissance was a cultural movement during the 14th and 17th centuries. It began in Italy and eventually spread through the rest of Europe. The literal translation from French to English is “rebirth”. Historians consider the renaissance the beginning of modern history. The ideas were exchanged between different groups. New inventions helped spread learning during this time. The Renaissance witnessed the emergence of many distinctive personalities. The art stressed personality, uniqueness, genius, and the full development of ones capabilities and talents. The art of the renaissance compared to medieval art. The art was characterized by classical balance, harmony, and restraint. In the early 15th century art remained overwhelmingly religiously in nature. Later 15th century art became more secular and included a greater amount of Greco- Roman themes. In the later 15th century, more secular art did not completely eliminate religious topics. The Renaissance glorification of the human body revealed the secular spirit of the age. Renaissance portraits began to mirror reality as realism began to dominate. The individual portrait began to emerge as a new distinct artistic genre. During the renaissance the status of the artist improved greatly. They did not produce unsolicited works, but rather only worked for a patron. Many of the era’s artists were able to achieve great wealth as they were respected, rewarded, and distinguished. The artist did not do their artwork to become famous unlike modern day artists. The church was one of the largest patrons of the arts. Patrons could be wealthy individuals or groups such as guilds or religious institutions. From 1050 to 1300, there was great economic and commercial growth in Europe and the continent. There was a great population growth during this time. Urban Centers are the driving force of the 11th century commercial growth. Trade and cultural diffusion were as a result of the crusades. Wealth allowed greater material pleasure and leisure time to appreciate and patronize the arts. The northern Italian city-states were