What is it about art that gives it an important role in the history of Europe? Art is an ever-evolving subject, both in theme and purpose. It is an artefact of the socio-cultural conditions of the time in which it was produced and an influential driving force for Europe's existence and way of life. Oscar Wilde (1889) observed: “life imitates art much more than art imitates life… the self-conscious purpose of life is to find expression, and art offers it certain beautiful forms through which it can realize that energy." This statement cannot be more fitting to the history of Europe as it is often said that the best way to learn about the country's history is through its art. After the devastating Black Death that wiped out half of Europe's population during the 14th century, Florence became the dominant capital city-state in central Italy. There was increasing innovation in art and literature that brought about the artistic and intellectual progress we know today as the Renaissance (1400-1550). At the beginning of the Renaissance, artists began to strive for techniques that would give their work a realistic quality. Pre-Renaissance paintings are two-dimensional, flat and very unrealistic emotional expressions and gave them more realistic clothes that flow and wrinkle. The artist who started the Renaissance movement is Giotto di Bondone Before Bondone's work, Franciscan churches were very popular throughout Florence as they were known for passionate preachers. However, the church decorations, altarpieces and religious paintings did not reflect this. Bondone studied nature closely so that its reality influenced his work. He was able to create a more realistic and emotional depiction of religious figures. This was a significant departure from the Byzantine style popular at the time. The Renaissance period was also marked by the emergence of great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. They created masterpieces that are still admired and studied today. The Renaissance was followed by the Baroque period (1600–1750). It was characterized by grandeur, drama and emotional intensity. The Baroque style was used to create works intended to inspire awe and wonder in the viewer. During the Enlightenment (1715–1789), art was seen as a tool for education and moral instruction. Art was expected to have authentic enjoyment and virtuous content. This kicked off the movement of Neoclassicism (1750–1850), which focused on the purity of classical form. During the Industrial Revolution, when art was considered more akin to science and artists were mere servants of political leaders in society, a new way of thinking emerged that rejected all conventions and liberated the artist's imagination. For the first time artists painted what was in their mind and soul and did not care whether they were understood or even admired by the public. Their images were full of dark, passionate, mysterious and introspective. They valued creativity and uniqueness above skill and talent. Instead of past methods that focused narrowly on conforming to convention, these artists have jumped on board