Early renaissance paintings or Renaissance art were created in conjunction with late medieval art. This is because the Renaissance did not spring up overnight.
Historians suggest that the late medieval period was also characterized by a greater interest in nature, increased individualism, and a revival of classical learning.
As time continued to pass, the emphasis placed on such concepts simply became greater. Renaissance art consists mainly of paintings, sculptures, and architecture.
Renaissance artists painted a wide variety of themes, with religious altarpieces, fresco cycles, and small works for private devotion being amongst the most popular.
One of the most common sources of inspiration for Renaissance artists was Jacobus de Voragine’s “Golden Legend” from 1260, a sourcebook on the lives of saints that had already become a strong influence on medieval artists.