Painting of Madonna and Child, tempera - Public domain dedication

Italian Renaissance painting is most often be divided into four periods: the Proto-Renaissance (1300–1425), the Early Renaissance (1425–1495), the High Renaissance (1495–1520), and Mannerism (1520–1600). The city of Florence is renowned as the birthplace of the Renaissance, and in particular of Renaissance painting. From the early 15th to late 16th centuries, Italy was divided into many political states. The painters of Renaissance Italy wandered Italy, disseminating artistic and philosophical ideas. The Proto-Renaissance begins with the professional life of the painter Giotto and includes Taddeo Gaddi, Orcagna and Altichiero. The Early Renaissance style was started by Masaccio and then further developed by Fra Angelico, Paolo Uccello, Piero della Francesca, Sandro Botticelli, Verrocchio, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Giovanni Bellini. The High Renaissance period was that of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Andrea del Sarto, Coreggio, Giorgione, the latter works of Giovanni Bellini, and Titian. The Mannerist period, dealt with in a separate article, included the latter works of Michelangelo, as well as Pontormo, Parmigianino, Bronzino and Tintoretto.

Duccio di Buoninsegna (c.1255–1260–c.1318–1319) was an Italian painter of the late medieval and early Renaissance periods. He is considered one of the most influential artists of the Sienese school, a style of painting that emerged in Siena, Italy, during the 13th and 14th centuries. Duccio's exact birth and death dates are not well-documented, but he is believed to have been born around 1255 in Siena. He was active as a painter during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Duccio's style marked a transition from the stylized Byzantine art that was prevalent in Italy during the Middle Ages to the more naturalistic and expressive forms of the Renaissance. One of Duccio's most famous works is the "Maestà" (1308-1311), a large altarpiece created for the Siena Cathedral. The Maestà depicts the Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by angels and saints. It is known for its intricate details, rich color palette, and a sense of spirituality. The reverse side of the Maestà features scenes from the life of Christ. Duccio's contributions to the development of Sienese painting and the transition to the Renaissance were significant. His work laid the foundation for later artists, and his influence can be seen in the art of subsequent generations in Siena and beyond.