Titian defined 16th century Venetian art with brushwork techniques. Michelangelo created influential frescoes in Sistine Chapel. Caravaggio pioneered Baroque painting with dramatic lighting. Velazquez created complex 'royal paintings' like Las Meninas
Born in Florence in 1459 as Giovanni and Maria Auditore's second child. Became a banker's apprentice until age 17. Witnessed family's execution at age 17, fled with mother and sister
Born in Urbino in 1483 to court painter Giovanni Santi. Orphaned at eleven, managed family workshop from early age. Trained under Perugino from 1500, becoming fully trained master
Hundred Years' War ended with French victory at Battle of Castillon. Wars of the Roses began in England, ending with Henry VII's victory. Constantinople fell to Ottoman Turks, marking end of Byzantine Empire. Renaissance began with Gutenberg's printing press invention. Western Schism divided Catholic Church until Council of Constance
Ancient Sumerians built stone basins for drinking water around 700 BC. Ancient Assyrians constructed rock-carved basins with lion reliefs. Ancient Egyptians developed systems for water hoisting from Nile. Ancient Greeks used aqueducts and gravity-powered fountains
Las Meninas by Velázquez combines three different themes in one painting. Primavera by Botticelli depicts spring growth based on ancient mythology. The Tower of Babel by Bruegel shows Roman engineering in detail. The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt depicts Jesus's survival through storm