• Cimabue (c. 1240-1302): An Italian painter and precursor to Giotto, Cimabue played a crucial role in the transition from the Byzantine style to the more naturalistic approach of the Renaissance. His most famous work is the Crucifixion in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence.
• Giotto di Bondone (c. 1267-1337): An Italian painter and architect, Giotto is often considered a pioneer of Renaissance art. His works displayed naturalistic representations and emotional depth, departing from the stylized Byzantine art of the time.

• Donatello (c. 1386-1466): Donatello's sculptural works were instrumental in the revival of classical forms and techniques. His bronze "David" is a significant example of his skill and innovation.
• Masaccio (1401-1428): Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, known as Masaccio, introduced naturalistic techniques and three-dimensional forms into painting. His frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel, such as the "Expulsion from the Garden of Eden," showcased his mastery of perspective and lifelike figures.
• Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445-1510): Botticelli's works are characterized by their ethereal beauty and mythological themes. The "Birth of Venus" and "Primavera" exemplify his graceful figures and delicate use of color.
• Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519): Leonardo is widely considered one of the greatest artists and thinkers of all time. His diverse talents encompassed painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, and scientific inquiry. Iconic works include the "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper."
• Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564): Michelangelo was a prodigious artist, sculptor, architect, and poet. He created some of the most famous sculptures in history, such as the "David" and the "Pieta," and painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which includes the famous "Creation of Adam."
• Raphael (1483-1520): Raphael's harmonious compositions and idealized figures epitomize the grace and beauty of the High Renaissance. Notable works include the "School of Athens" and "The Transfiguration."
• Titian (c. 1488-1576): Tiziano Vecellio, known as Titian, was a prolific Venetian painter renowned for his mastery of color and brushwork. His works, such as "Assumption of the Virgin" and "Bacchus and Ariadne," showcased his ability to capture vibrant scenes and convey a sense of drama.

• Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441): A Flemish painter, Jan van Eyck is considered one of the founders of the Northern Renaissance. He is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, mastery of oil painting techniques, and the development of naturalistic portraiture. His most famous work is the "Ghent Altarpiece."
• Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516): Bosch was a Netherlandish painter known for his imaginative and often fantastical artworks. His intricate and surreal paintings, such as "The Garden of Earthly Delights" and "The Temptation of St. Anthony," depicted moral and religious themes with bizarre and symbolic imagery.
• Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528): Albrecht Dürer, a German artist, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Renaissance artists. He excelled in various mediums, including painting, printmaking, and woodcuts. Dürer's works displayed a blend of precision, technical skill, and intellectual depth, with notable pieces such as "Melencolia I" and "Adam and Eve."
• Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543): Holbein, a German artist, is renowned for his portraits of the European nobility and prominent figures of his time. His meticulous attention to detail and his ability to capture likeness made him highly sought after. Notable works include portraits of King Henry VIII and "The Ambassadors."
• Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1525-1569): Bruegel, a Flemish painter, captured scenes of everyday life, landscapes, and social commentary in his works. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail, vibrant colors, and complex compositions. "The Harvesters" and "The Tower of Babel" are among his notable works.

• El Greco (1541-1614): Born in Greece and later active in Spain, El Greco is known for his unique style characterized by elongated figures, intense colors, and dramatic lighting. His work "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" exemplifies his distinctive Mannerist approach.

• Caravaggio (1571-1610): Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian painter known for his dramatic use of chiaroscuro (contrasting light and shadow) and realistic depictions. His works, such as "The Calling of Saint Matthew" and "The Conversion of Saint Paul," had a profound impact on later Baroque painters.
• Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640): Rubens, a Flemish painter, was one of the most prolific artists of the Baroque period. His works featured dynamic compositions, rich colors, and a sensual approach. Rubens painted a wide range of subjects, including religious and mythological scenes, as well as portraits and landscapes.
• Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1656): Gentileschi, an Italian painter, was one of the few female artists of the Baroque period to achieve recognition. Her works, such as "Judith Slaying Holofernes," often depicted powerful and heroic women and showcased her skill in depicting intense emotion and drama.
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680): Bernini, an Italian sculptor, architect, and painter, is considered one of the greatest artists of the Baroque period. He was a master of capturing dynamic movement and emotion in his sculptures, such as "Apollo and Daphne" and "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa." Bernini also played a crucial role in the design of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
• Diego Velázquez (1599-1660): Velázquez, a Spanish painter, was known for his realistic portraits and scenes of court life. His masterpiece, "Las Meninas," is considered one of the most iconic paintings in Western art. Velázquez's ability to capture texture, light, and human expression had a profound influence on later artists.

• Frans Hals (c. 1582-1666): Hals was a portrait painter renowned for his loose brushwork and ability to capture the character and vitality of his subjects. His lively and dynamic portraits provided a fresh and innovative approach during the Dutch Golden Age. Notable works include "The Laughing Cavalier" and "Portrait of Pieter van den Broecke."
• Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669): Rembrandt is widely regarded as one of the greatest painters in European art history. Known for his masterful use of light and shadow, his portraits, historical paintings, and biblical scenes are characterized by their emotional depth and introspective nature. Notable works include "The Night Watch" and "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp."
• Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675): Vermeer was a master of genre painting, particularly known for his exquisite treatment of light and meticulous attention to detail. His works often depict domestic scenes, capturing moments of quiet beauty and introspection. Famous paintings include "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and "The Milkmaid."

• Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721): Watteau was a French painter known for his fête galante paintings, which depicted elegant outdoor gatherings of the aristocracy. His works captured the spirit of Rococo with their graceful figures, soft colors, and dreamlike atmosphere.
• François Boucher (1703-1770): Boucher, also a French artist, was a prolific painter, draftsman, and printmaker. He became one of the leading exponents of the Rococo style, creating idyllic and sensual scenes, often with mythological or pastoral themes. Boucher's works were characterized by their delicate brushwork, pastel colors, and voluptuous figures.
• Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806): Fragonard was a French painter known for his exuberant and vibrant Rococo style. His works, such as "The Swing" and "The Progress of Love" series, showcased his skill in capturing movement, lush landscapes, and romantic themes.
• Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770): Tiepolo, an Italian painter, was one of the most important Rococo artists outside of France. He excelled in large-scale frescoes and ceiling paintings, creating dramatic compositions filled with swirling figures, architectural elements, and celestial scenes. His works can be seen in churches and palaces across Europe.
• Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (1699-1779): Chardin, a French painter, was known for his still-life and genre paintings. His works stood out from the ornate Rococo style with their simplicity and focus on domestic scenes. Chardin's paintings often depicted everyday objects, such as kitchenware and household items, with meticulous detail and a quiet elegance.

• William Hogarth (1697-1764): Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, and satirist. He is best known for his series of narrative paintings, such as "A Harlot's Progress" and "Marriage A-la-Mode," which depicted social commentary and moral themes with sharp wit and satire.
• Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788): Gainsborough was a prominent portrait and landscape painter. He is known for his ability to capture the natural beauty of his subjects and landscapes, often infusing his works with a sense of romanticism. Famous paintings include "The Blue Boy" and "The Morning Walk."
• Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792): Reynolds was a leading portrait painter and the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts. He painted numerous portraits of prominent figures, including members of the British aristocracy, using a refined and classical style. His works had a significant influence on the development of British portraiture.
• John Singleton Copley (1738-1815): Copley was an American-born painter who spent a significant part of his career in England. He is known for his skillful and detailed portraits, as well as historical and genre paintings. Notable works include "Watson and the Shark," "Paul Revere," and "The Death of Major Peirson." Copley's works bridged the gap between American colonial art and the European tradition, making him an important figure in both American and English art history.

• Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825): David was a leading French painter and the most prominent Neoclassical artist. He became the official painter of the French Revolution and later Napoleon Bonaparte. David's works, such as "The Death of Socrates" and "Napoleon Crossing the Alps," embodied the ideals of patriotism, heroism, and moral virtue.
• Antonio Canova (1757-1822): Canova was an Italian sculptor known for his marble sculptures that embodied the Neoclassical aesthetic. His works, including "Cupid and Psyche" and "The Three Graces," displayed a harmonious balance of idealized beauty, grace, and restraint.
• Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867): Ingres, a French painter, embraced the Neoclassical style with a focus on precise draftsmanship, clean lines, and idealized figures. His portraits and historical paintings, such as "The Apotheosis of Homer" and "La Grande Odalisque," showcased his meticulous technique and attention to detail.
• Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842): Vigée Le Brun was a prominent French portrait painter and one of the few women artists to achieve recognition and success during the 18th century. She became the official portrait painter to Queen Marie Antoinette, and her works captured the elegance and grace of the French aristocracy.