Vincent Finnan-site author.
Helping art lovers to see Renaissance art more clearly.

This site is for students of art, lovers of Renaissance art, or for anyone who is interested in learning about the painters and sculptors of the Italian Renaissance. If you are looking for the artworks and biographies of the people and institutions who commissioned these works, then you are in the right place.

You will discover famous works of art along with explanations of how and why they were created and who commissioned them.

Welcome, I'm Vincent Finnan, I live in the  town of St Helens in Merseyside England. I am the owner and author of Italian Renaissance Art.

My formal studies into art history began at the Gamble Institute of art in my hometown in the early 1970s. This formed the basis of a lifelong love of art. However, my expertise in art history has been gained over a period of more than 50 years. A lifetime of studying and cross-checking the facts have led ultimately to the building of this website which I began in 2008.

I want to build a clear, useful and accurate vision for readers.

My Artistic Mission.

My mission is to see as many of the masterpieces of the Renaissance in the flesh. Extensive visits to galleries, places of worship and palaces in Venice, Paris, London, the Vatican in Rome and Florence, has fuelled my passion for art even more. The most valuable lesson is that you never stop learning, there is always something that will surprise and delight.

Devouring information from books and websites is fine but the real inspiration is gained by experiencing art in situ.

I would strongly encourage as many of my site visitors as possible to look at art in person by exploring the cities of Italy or wherever Renaissance art is housed in the museums of the world. Standing in front of a painting or sculpture gives the viewer a sense of scale that is very difficult to imagine from a book or a screen.

Wherever you go in the world, from the largest city to the smallest town, there is almost always a gallery or museum featuring works of art. So if you happen to be on vacation, or even a business trip, try to take some time to visit whatever may be available. 

Inside Veronese's Feast in the House of Levi at the Accademia Galleries in Venice

To give you some sense of scale that's me standing in front of Veronese's magnificently huge masterpiece. Seeing a work like that in person changes your understanding of it completely. The difference between looking at a photograph in a book and viewing the painting live becomes clear, the size of the work allows you to see details more clearly and gaze in wonder at the astonishing skill of the artist.

The next step.

If you plan to visit Italy, a good starting point is Renaissance Florence, where to see art in the city.

I hope that you enjoy the journey and visit often. Please feel free to post your comments, corrections or any questions that you may have through my contact page.