The Renaissance was considered to be a great period of change in the culture
             and society of Western Europe. The Renaissance started in Italy and slowly
             spread throughout Europe. The church was still a major political, social and
             economic power as well as primary patron of the arts. An emerging middle class
             began to question the old foundations. Education, especially the literary
             aspects began to enlighten the people. Literature, became more available as a
             result of the printing press. Individual achievement, scientific inquiry and
             new wealth set the stage for the Renaissance to match and even surpass Classical
             Greece and Rome. Advancement from the Medieval into the Renaissance era
             occurred primarily directly effecting art, literature, the sciences, and the
             One of the most prominent changes in the aspects of society was the way in
             which art was now depicted. In the Medieval times no expression appeared on the
             faces of individuals because we were all a reflection of God. God's children
             and peoples clothes were all painted the same color. (Example, site reading)
             Renaissance sculptures were proportioned to the human body and dramatic results
             were achieved as did Michelangelo with his prized David. The main employer of
             artists and painters was the Church or the Pope.(example, site reading). With
             the transition of time to the Renaissance, more people were now working (site
             reading), and had money, so they became the employer. The term used to describe
             this was known as patronage. Art or realism changed as a result of the buyers
             or purchasers of the works being people other than true representatives of the
             Pope. Expressions of art, realism, was now depicted in the works of artists. In
             their faces are seen love, fear, wrath, or even sorrow, at not being able to
             understand the meaning of Christ.(Vasari, P.243) Other Renaissance pieces
             included works in sculpture and in clay.
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