Why did Renaissance artists study human anatomy and use living models?

During the Renaissance, artists studied human anatomy and utilized living models to achieve a level of realism and naturalism that defined the era's artistic revolution.1

The primary motivations included:

• Scientific Accuracy: Influenced by humanism, artists sought to understand the human figure as a creation of nature. Theorists like Leon Battista Alberti urged painters to construct figures based on the underlying skeleton and musculature before adding skin.2
• Mechanical Understanding: Artists like Leonardo da Vinci moved beyond static observation to study the body’s mechanical activity, probing internal organs to understand how they functioned as the motors of life.2
• Artistic Expression: By mastering the structure of the body, artists could create more convincing, lifelike representations. This allowed them to employ techniques such as contrapposto, which enabled figures to stand naturally and occupy believable space.1
• Individualism: The focus on the human form reflected the Renaissance emphasis on the dignity and autonomy of the individual, leading to highly detailed and realistic portraiture.3