How did Renaissance art differ from medieval art?

Renaissance art marked a significant departure from the aesthetic and philosophical foundations of the Middle Ages. While medieval art often favored abstract forms, symbolic gold backgrounds, and stylized, two-dimensional figures, Renaissance art shifted toward representational naturalism and the exploration of human experience.1

Key differences include:

• Perspective and Space: Renaissance artists utilized linear perspective and atmospheric perspective to create the illusion of depth, placing figures in believable, three-dimensional landscapes rather than against flat, decorative backdrops.1
• Humanism and Subject Matter: Influenced by humanism, art moved beyond strictly biblical narratives to include portraits, contemporary life, and classical mythology. Figures were rendered with accurate anatomy and dynamic poses, such as contrapposto, to suggest mass and movement.12
• The Role of the Artist: During the Renaissance, the artist evolved from an anonymous craftsman into an intellectual and celebrated individual. Painting became a self-aware form of expression, increasingly supported by a mercantile class of patrons rather than solely by the church.12