Art in Europe can be traced back to medieval art of the Middle Ages. Other significant ages for European art were the Renaissance, Baroque, Mannerism and Neoclassicism.
Through the 16th century, most of European art was influenced by Christianity. Later art included influences from ancient Roman and Greek mythology, as well as movements, such as Romanticism, Realism and the Enlightenment, during the 17th through the 19th centuries.
European art encompasses not only paintings and portraits but other forms such as sculpture, architecture and performing arts.
Leonardo Da Vinci, an Italian artist and inventor, is known for painting the Mona Lisa. Michelangelo Buonarroti, another Italian artist, is known for creating the fresco ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.
Two prominent museums housing European art are The Vatican Museums at the Vatican, near Rome, and The Louvre in Paris. Both museums house priceless paintings, tapestries and sculptures showcasing European art through the ages.