Gianlorenzo Bernini-Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi

            Located in Rome, Italy, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or "Fountain of the Four Rivers" is a fountain designed by Gianlorenzo Bernini for Pope Innocent X in 1651. The fountain is a composite of four major rivers of the four continents through which papal authority had spread: the Nile River in Africa, the Danube in Europe, the Ganges in Asia, and the Platte in the Americas. Above them, an ancient Egyptian obelisk is surmounted with the Pamphili family symbol of a dove with an olive twig. I like this fountain because of its complex structures and statues which ultimately express the excellent skills of Renaissance master Gianlorenzo Bernini. 

Gian Lorenzo Bernini - David

David is a marble sculpture created by Italian artist Gianlorenzo Bernini in seven months from 1623-1624. The statue depicts the biblical David who was about to throw the stone that would bring down Goliath. The statue has several interesting features which show the prosperity of the Renaissance period. Aside from that, with this statue, Bernini also emphasized the rise of Baroque in sculpture where artist used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama and tension. 

Albrecht Altdorfer- The Battle of Alexander at Issus

The Battle of Alexander at Issus is a 1529 oil painting by German artist Albrecht Altdorfer ca. 1480–1538. This artwork depicts the battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire where the victory was on Alexander the Great’s side. I like this painting because it illustrates enormous landscape with vivid colors and distinctive details such as the present of the moon and the sun on the sky at the same time.

Melencolia I - Albrecht Dürer

Melencolia I is an engraving by the German Renaissance master, Albrecht Dürer, in 1514. This artwork was a “self-portrait” of Durer’s personality. I like this engraving because of its concept emphasizes the fact that an artist sometimes cannot produce any work even though he is surrounded by all the tools he needs. 

Michelangelo- Sistine Chapel ceiling

This enormous fresco painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was created by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. This incredible artwork depicted the doctrine of humanity's need for Salvation as offered by God through Jesus. The complex design of images in the painting as well as the vibrant color of all the details has shown many features of High Renaissance art including humanism and the devotion in divine art of the Catholic Churches. 

Leonardo da Vinci – Embryo in the Womb

This sketch of an embryo in the womb was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci using black and red chalk with some pen and ink wash on paper ca. 1510. It was an interesting sketch since it clearly showed that Leonardo da Vinci was indeed a renaissance man, an individual who has well knowledge in various field. In fact, along with being a brilliant artist, Leonardo da Vinci also had his interests in scientific illustration as well as in discovery of new ideas. With this vivid sketch of an embryo, Leonardo da Vinci opened up a novel way for the field of medical illustration.

Pollaiuolo – Hercules and Antaeus

This bronze sculpture, named Hercules and Antaeus, was made by Antonio Del Pollaiuolo ca. 1475. I like this artwork because it well illustrated the pain and the struggle of an individual in combat. This feature ultimately reveals that the artist did comprise humanism, an important concept of Renaissance era, into his sculpture. 

Botticelli - Birth of Venus

This artwork, named the Birth of Venus, was painted by Botticelli ca. 1486. Its medium is tempera on canvas. I like this picture because it depicted the revolution of art during Renaissance period in which the artist brought much humanism into the picture. The nudity of Venus is, a controversial elements during the artist's era, also a distinctive part of the drawing. In addition to that, the unique color and impeccable depth contributed to the beauty of the drawing.