Renaissance ArtIt is agreed that the Renaissance was a period of great artistic and architectural achievement and ingenuity, during which artists looked to the classical art of Greece and Rome for inspiration. This influence can easily be seen in the many paintings and sculptures that came out of the Renaissance. However, the conservative nature of the period, the subjects covered, and the restrictions placed on the artists of the time prevented the Renaissance from becoming a true return to the Greek and Roman classics. The most obvious factor in the difference between the two artistic periods is the predominant subject chosen by the artists of the time. In ancient Greece and Rome, the most popular subjects among artists were depictions of myths, wars, or intellectual figures: statues of the gods decorated almost every significant architectural landmark of the time. Being a Christian society, Renaissance art did not simply depict various biblical stories, but also moral stories permeated with religious allusions and symbolism. The Sistine Chapel is jus...