The Renaissance started in Florence, Italy, a place with a rich cultural history where wealthy citizens could afford to support budding artists.

Giorgio Vasari, a Reneissance period painter was also the author of the famous "Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects." This book is destined to live long, and perhaps eternal life, because until mankind will live, it will remain one of the main sources of information on prominent figures of the Renaissance. It should be noted that it was Vasari who coined the term "Renaissance" ("Rinascita").
The movement first expanded to other Italian city-states, such as Venice, Milan, Bologna, Ferrara and Rome. Then, during the 15th century, Renaissance ideas spread from Italy to France and then throughout western and northern Europe.
Although other European countries experienced their Renaissance often later than Italy, the impacts were still revolutionary.
Renaissance art was characterized by realism and naturalism. Artists strived to depict people and objects in a true-to-life way.
They used techniques, such as perspective, shadows and light to add depth to their work. Emotion was another quality that artists tried to infuse into their pieces.