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Renaissance historical figures

Explore historical figures from the Renaissance. Read concise biographies, learn key facts, and play a quiz focused on this collection.

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42 figures

Presumed self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Italy · 1452–1519

Artist, inventor & scientist

Portrait of William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare

United Kingdom · 1564–1616

Playwright & poet

Portrait of Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton

United Kingdom · 1642–1727

Mathematician & physicist

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I

United Kingdom · 1533–1603

Queen of England

Statue of Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz

Johannes Gutenberg

Germany · c. 1400–1468

Inventor & printer

Mughal-era painting depicting Emperor Akbar

Akbar

India · 1542–1605

Mughal Emperor

Portrait of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Japan · 1543–1616

Shogun & unifier of Japan

Historical illustration of Queen Nzinga

Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba

Angola · c. 1583–1663

Queen of Ndongo and Matamba

Bust of Admiral Yi Sun-sin

Yi Sun-sin

South Korea · 1545–1598

Naval commander

Painted portrait of King Henry VIII

Henry VIII

United Kingdom · 1491–1547

King of England

Painted portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach

Germany · 1685–1750

Composer

Painted portrait of Galileo Galilei

Galileo Galilei

Italy · 1564–1642

Astronomer & physicist

Portrait of Michelangelo

Michelangelo

Italy · 1475–1564

Sculptor, painter & architect

Self-portrait of Sandro Botticelli

Sandro Botticelli

Italy · 1445–1510

Painter

Painted portrait of René Descartes

René Descartes

France · 1596–1650

Philosopher & mathematician

Painted portrait believed to depict Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama

Portugal · c. 1460s–1524

Explorer & navigator

Portrait of Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan

Portugal · 1480–1521

Explorer & navigator

Painted portrait said to depict Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus

Italy · 1451–1506

Explorer & navigator

Painted portrait of King Gustav Vasa

Gustav Vasa

Sweden · 1496–1560

King of Sweden

Portrait of Suleiman the Magnificent

Suleiman the Magnificent

Turkey · 1494–1566

Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

Statue of Grace O'Malley (Gráinne Mhaol)

Grace O'Malley

Ireland · c. 1530–c. 1603

Irish chieftain and seafarer

Portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Switzerland · 1712–1778

Philosopher

Portrait of Voltaire

Voltaire

France · 1694–1778

Writer and philosopher

Portrait of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Netherlands · 1632–1723

Microbiologist

Portrait of Leonhard Euler

Leonhard Euler

Switzerland · 1707–1783

Mathematician

Portrait of Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal

France · 1623–1662

Mathematician and philosopher

Portrait of King John III Sobieski

John III Sobieski

Poland · 1629–1696

King of Poland

Historical portrait of Nur Jahan

Nur Jahan

India · 1577–1645

Mughal empress

Portrait of Niccolò Machiavelli

Niccolò Machiavelli

Italy · 1469–1527

Political theorist and diplomat

Portrait of Girolamo Savonarola by Fra Bartolomeo

Girolamo Savonarola

Italy · 1452–1498

Friar & political leader of Florence

Portrait of Cosimo de' Medici

Cosimo de' Medici

Italy · 1389–1464

Banker & de facto ruler of Florence

Portrait of Lorenzo de' Medici

Lorenzo de' Medici

Italy · 1449–1492

De facto ruler of Florence & patron of the arts

Portrait traditionally identified as Cesare Borgia

Cesare Borgia

Italy · 1475–1507

Cardinal & military commander

Portrait of Pope Julius II by Raphael

Pope Julius II

Italy · 1443–1513

Pope & patron of the arts

Statue portrait of Filippo Brunelleschi

Filippo Brunelleschi

Italy · 1377–1446

Architect & engineer

Portrait believed to depict Donatello

Donatello

Italy · c. 1386–1466

Sculptor

Self-portrait of Raphael

Raphael

Italy · 1483–1520

Painter & architect

Self-portrait of Titian

Titian

Italy · c. 1488–1576

Painter

Portrait believed to depict Caravaggio

Caravaggio

Italy · 1571–1610

Painter

Portrait believed to be a self-portrait of El Greco

El Greco

Spain · 1541–1614

Painter

Self-portrait of Diego Velazquez

Diego Velazquez

Spain · 1599–1660

Painter

Self-portrait of Peter Paul Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens

Belgium · 1577–1640

Painter & diplomat