One of the most recognizable and iconic images in the world is that of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," a simple portrait of a woman smirking. Countless articles and books have been written about the symbolism, hidden meaning and codes in the painting; but on the surface, it is simply a beguiling portrait of an intriguing woman.
Another incredibly important and world-famous Renaissance artist is Michelangelo, who did much of his work on commission for the Catholic church. In the early 16th century, Michelangelo was hired to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. His frescoes took years and are still visited by tourists in the 21st century. The multifaceted mural covers many biblical stories, depicting angels, popes and, most famously, "The Creation of Adam" in which a bearded God reaches out to touch the finger of Adam, the first man.
An iconic and easily recognizable painting is "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli. A large, colorful canvas depicts the Roman goddess Venus being blown in from the sea by a zephyr. She stands on a large shell and a woman awaits her arrival with a cloak. This slightly naturalistic depiction of the pagan goddess was part of a larger sequence by Botticelli depicting various gods and goddesses. Like many Renaissance thinkers, Botticelli's tastes ran to the classical era.
Yet another famous and recognizable work by Michelangelo is the marble statue of the biblical hero David. At the time, the statue was a feat simply for its size. David stands at roughly 17 feet in height, much larger than life-size. Now only viewable in museums, David was originally placed in a public square in Italy.