Early Modern

AD 1400-1800

Marked by the Renaissance and Baroque, this era revived classical ideals while celebrating humanism, proportion, realism, and dramatic expression.

c. 1780–1850

Romanticism

Art emphasizing emotion, imagination, and nature. Often reacted against rationalism and industrialization.

c. 1750–1850

Neoclassicism

Art inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Emphasized order, clarity, and moral seriousness.

c. 1700–1820

Grand Tour Artists

Artists inspired by travel through classical Europe. Produced landscapes, ruins, and idealized scenes for elite patrons.

c. 1700–1775

Rococo

A decorative, playful style associated with aristocratic life. Light colors and ornate detail dominate.

c. 1600–1670

Dutch Golden Age

17th-century art focused on daily life, landscapes, and still lifes. It reflected a prosperous, mercantile society.

c. 1600–1750

Baroque

Dramatic, emotional art using movement, contrast, and grandeur. It aimed to inspire awe and reinforce religious or royal power.

c. 1520–1600

Mannerism

A style favoring elegance, exaggeration, and artificiality. Figures appear elongated and compositions unstable.

c. 1520–1600

Late Renaissance

A transitional phase marked by complexity and tension. Classical harmony began to break down.

c. 1490–1527

High Renaissance

A peak moment of balance, harmony, and mastery. Art achieved ideal proportions and technical perfection.

c. 1450–1550

Northern Renaissance

Renaissance art in Northern Europe. Known for realism, symbolism, and detailed surfaces.

c. 1450–1600

Venetian Renaissance

Renaissance art focused on color and atmosphere. Oil painting and light effects were central.

c. 1400–1480

Early Renaissance

Marked the rebirth of classical learning and naturalism. Artists explored perspective, anatomy, and humanism.

c. 1400–1500

Early Netherlandish Art

Northern European painting known for oil technique and detail. Realism and symbolism were closely intertwined.