How did the Renaissance influence important artists?
I dont find your question silly at all. The Renaissance was a time when men began thinking in new ways – wanted to study the past, particularly ancient Greek and Rome; and to learn about maths. and science. At this time, the individual and his life in the real world became important for the first time (and for the first time in art history). Before this, in the medieval period,people saw this world as being only a preparation for the next world (ie. life after death) At that time depictions of figures, e.g., were stiff and unrealistic (look at Saints on mosaics in St. Vitale Ravenna). The Renaissance was a time when people – their emotions and how they really looked became important. Also the idea of beauty in art comes from this time.
