A freely available resource, Italian Renaissance Learning Resources features eight units, each of which explores a different theme in Italian Renaissance art.
This project is a collaboration between the National Gallery of Art and Oxford University Press’s acclaimed Grove Art Online. It was made possible through the generous support of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and developed by Sandbox Studios.
For researchers and students:
- Authoritative coverage of major themes in Italian Renaissance art provides an essential introduction to this broad subject
- Easy to navigate and robust linking program promotes further research
- 42 primary source texts offer additional support and context
- Over 300 stunning images provide visual support to the content
- 300 glossary items offer additional insight and clarification for terms and artists
For educators:
- Eight organized units on specific aspects of Italian Renaissance art focus students and provide a starting point for research
- Links to glossary terms and Grove Art Online provide students with a robust research experience
- Printable activity guides and discussion questions for use in the classroom increase student engagement
- Offers useful tools for lecture preparation and course development
Samuel H. Kress Foundation
The Kress Collection encompasses more than 3,000 works of European art and is distinguished for its abundance of Italian Renaissance paintings. The Collection was donated to scores of regional and academic art museums throughout the United States between 1929 and 1961, with the single largest donation reserved for the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The Samuel H. Kress Foundation devotes its resources to advancing the history, conservation, and enjoyment of the vast heritage of European art, architecture, and archaeology from antiquity to the early 19th century. The foundation awarded a generous grant to support this project.
National Gallery of Art, Washington
A museum of international standing, the National Gallery of Art serves the people of the United States by preserving, collecting, exhibiting, and fostering the understanding of works of art, at the highest possible museum and scholarly standards. The Gallery’s Division of Education guided the development of this site’s educational content. The texts are supported by hundreds of images of art works from the Gallery’s collection; see NGA Images for more.
Grove Art Online
Grove Art Online is the foremost scholarly art encyclopedia, covering all aspects of visual culture. Published by Oxford University Press and available through the Oxford Art Online portal, it includes the full text of the landmark 34-volume Dictionary of Art (1996) and is updated with new material multiple times each year. Grove Art contributed glossaries and editorial guidance to this effort.
Unit Contributors
Robyn Asleson is an independent art historian based in Washington, DC. She specializes in the influence of classical antiquity and contemporary theater on 18th- and 19th-century British art.
Carla Brenner develops a range of interpretive materials for the National Gallery of Art.
Debra Pincus is an independent scholar affiliated with the Department of Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. She specializes in the painting and sculpture of late medieval and Renaissance Venice.
Sandbox Studios
Sandbox Studios works with museums to plan, create, manage, and assess education programs and technology projects. Sandbox managed the project design and development of this site.
Image and Primary Source Providers
Many thanks are due to the generous institutions and individuals who provided illustrations and primary source texts to enrich the educational experience on this site. Each is acknowledged in the relevant item’s credit line.
Acknowledgements
The authors, the National Gallery of Art, Oxford University Press, and the Kress Foundation would like to thank the following individuals: Nancy Breuer, David Brown, Ted Daziel, Lamia Doumato, David Essex, Lee Ewing, Susanna Fields-Kuehl, Melanie Spears Harper, Gretchen Hirschauer, Leo Kasun, Jenna Lanier, Mary Levkoff, Yuri Long, Alison Luchs, Eleanora Luciano, Donna Mann, Jane McAllister, Judy Metro, Barbara Moore, Emily Pegues, Rachel Richards, Jennifer Riddell, Karen Serres, and Jeff Streed. We would also like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the libraries of the National Gallery, the George Washington University, and the Catholic University of America.