Renaissance Art
The Italian Renaissance was influenced by ancient Greek and Roman art styles. From early fourteenth century, in response to Gothic styles, Italian artists and thinkers became inspired by the ideas and forms of ancient Greece and Rome. Renaissance art was driven by the idea of "Humanism", a philosophy which attributed the greatest importance to the dignity and worth of the individual. After the Black Death, Italy's geographical location allowed for trade of goods and thus ideas. The extreme wealth of the Medici family allowed regions such as Florence, to flourish and prosper. Many Italians looked back into the Roman golden days, and with Roman ruins scattered everywhere, and the people recreated the techniques in their art.