Some of the world's most celebrated works of art--the Mona Lisa and The Birth of Venus, to name just two--were produced during the period of cultural reawakening known as the Renaissance. Painters of the era incorporated new techniques and ideals while reflecting in their works the dramatic social, religious, and political changes of the time. Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and El Greco are just a few of the notable Renaissance artists profiled in this volume, which also includes vibrant images of a number of influential works.