But what makes these photographs resemble the Renaissance era, you may be asking? Well, to find out, we need to first learn about the period. 

Renaissance in French means ‘rebirth.’ The choice of words here isn’t merely accidental, as the whole era spanning from the 14th to 17th centuries was defined by Europe's cultural, artistic, political, and economic revival.

Following the Dark Middle Ages, which saw few advancements, the Renaissance era promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art.

This push created the humanism movement, which encouraged the idea that man is the center of the universe and that every human being should embrace their achievements in education, classical arts, literature, and science.

The invention of the Gutenberg printing press in 1450 allowed scientists and thinkers of the era to spread their fresh ideas more quickly. It also improved communication throughout the entire Europe.

During the Renaissance, science and art were fused seamlessly, which meant that artists like da Vinci included scientific principles like anatomy in their work to recreate the human body with a precision never seen before. The influence of science on art also made it realistic and naturalistic. Artists strived to depict people and objects as close to real life as possible.

Artists’ most used techniques during this era were perspective, shadows, and light, which added depth and emotion to their work. Similar to Renaissance paintings, “accidental Renaissance” pictures entail natural, warm colors, and a shadowy look.

However, unlike the “accidental Renaissance” photos, the actual paintings of the era would take several years to make. For example, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper took three years to paint, while the infamous Mona Lisa was made in the span of 16 years. Some researchers suggest that his works took so long to paint due to an attention disorder.

The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli also took time and patience, as it was painted in the course of 2 years. Just like Michelangelo's David and Raphael’s The School of Athens. It’s true that good things take time since the era produced some of the most beautiful artworks the world has ever seen.

For those who might want to dabble in some intentional or unintentional Renaissance-inspired photography, light and composition are key to achieving this look, according to Chroma, photography, film, and art YouTube channel. Just as we previously discussed, shadows are very important here. There’s a good reason da Vinci said that “a painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.”