Though out history, many artists have searched for and continue to seek beauty. During the Renaissance, the artist created an illusion with the insides of panels. The invention of perspective made two-dimensional space look three-dimensional. With linear perspective, artists created not only an illusion, but also a perfect harmonious picture plane. They were also interested in the details of the human figure: inside and outside. Artists used different techniques to achieve perfection during the Renaissance period.
The term Renaissance came from the French equivalent of the Italian word rinascita, literally meaning "rebirth." The term also describes the radical and comprehensive changes that took place in European culture during the 15th and 16th centuries. The consciousness of cultural rebirth was itself a characteristic of the Renaissance. Italian scholars and critics began studying the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. In the 15th century, the Renaissance mainly developed in Italy. However, in the 19th century, Jules Michelet and Jakob Burckhardt popularized the idea of the Renaissance as a distinct historical period heralding the modern age, characterized by the rise of the individual, scientific inquiry, geographical exploration, and the growth of secular values.
Increased awareness of classical knowledge created a new resolve to learn by direct observation and study of the natural world. The theme became increasingly important to artists. The classical poets and mythologys were well known throughout the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance, the artist used these classical mythologys to glorify human actions rather than showing another Christian morality. Italians especially, recaptured the former glory of Rome. They thought the mythologys were more than pretty fairy-tales but the conveyance of powerful wisdom of the ancient classical legends.
One of the most famous paintings of mythology during the Renaissance, is the "Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli.
