Painting has been a way to create art for centuries. Many people have heard of the Old Masters, but few can list all of them. Many have heard of famous painters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Jan van Eyck. These are all painters that were famous during the Renaissance, and their works are still cherished today. What many people do not know is that painters in the category of Old Masters range from early 1300 until early 1800 and are all European.

The Renaissance was an important time in European history. Culture, art and music were suddenly very important to many people. Artists were celebrated and respected for their work. New techniques were created and shared within the art world. While there are many artists that began their careers after the end of the Renaissance, they benefitted from the earlier works of other artists.