A cultural trend toward Humanism occurred during the High Italian Renaissance period, prompting High Renaissance artists to return to Classical Greco-Roman notions of universal man and his position in the universe.
The High Renaissance was shaped by a few recognized masters and the intense rivalries that arose amongst them as they competed for not just aristocratic patronage, but also top brilliance in their work.
While the art of the preceding Gothic era stressed the idolization of the secular and sacred, painters in 14th-century Florence were more preoccupied with man’s role in the world.
While High Renaissance art followed the history of fresco painting in association with religious topics, the artistic style of masters was influenced by media developments.
Quadratura was the name used to describe the flourishing ceiling painting genre of the period, which was notable for its integration with the surrounding architecture and usage of trompe l’oeil.
Donato Bramante was the preeminent High Renaissance architect, well known for his focus on classical harmony, the use of a centralized plan, and rotational symmetry, like in Tempietto (1502).
Michelangelo was the undisputed master of sculpture throughout the High Renaissance, and his Pietà (1499), completed when he was only 24, started his career.
The culture and artistic endeavors of ancient Greece and Rome were greatly impacted by High Renaissance art, which was valued for its order, beauty, and perfection.
They employed shading, perspective, and foreshortening to produce a feeling of depth and three-dimensionality, and they devoted special attention to subtleties like shadow and light play.