The Renaissance was a time when artists, scholars, scientists, philosophers, and architects, in their hunger for insight and enlightenment, began to look back to the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome for answers. This fresh outlook spurred on pursuits in anatomy, linear and aerial perspective, geometry, astronomy, anything that could help man to accomplish the goal of understanding his place in his new and awakened state within the world. This guide is an introduction to some of the major artists of the period. It is designed to whet the appetite, to give the basics with some interesting facts that will hopefully inspire the curious reader to further explore these fascinating individuals who did so much to forward the cause of artistic expression.