Renaissance man
Also called: Universal man · Topic: Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Changing Cultural Traditions"
Meaning
'Renaissance man' means a person who is good at many different things. The term came about because many famous people of the Renaissance were several things at once, such as scholar, diplomat, theologian (someone who studies religion) and artist. It reflects the humanist belief that a person can develop many skills.
Example
Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) is the classic Renaissance man. He studied botany (plants), anatomy (the body) and mathematics, painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, and designed a flying machine. He signed himself 'disciple of experiment'.
Don't confuse with
- Guild member: in earlier times, artists worked as members of a guild (a craft group) and were not known by name. A Renaissance man was known as an individual with many talents.