Renovatio, restauratio, and reforma are medieval concepts that have to do with the restoration of knowledge. They are associated with the Italian Renaissance era, in which philosophies of Humanism evolved. This historical period was a time of learning and these concepts embodied the theological and philosophical growth that was surmounting during this time. The gaining of knowledge came through the restoration and rediscovery of influential Greek and Roman works, and scholars used reason to answer questions and explore their faith. There is a link posted that shows artwork from this period, and one can see how Humanistic thought pervaded the minds of artists and influenced their work. The website is from the Allentown Art Museum (actually a lesson plan for a class), but I liked the historical descriptions and how the artwork is explained.

Brunelleschi's Dome is located on the Cathedral of Florence. It was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and inspired by the geometry of the Atlas. This is historically significant because it highlights the architectural developments of the Italian Renaissance. This dome is considered to be an amazing engineering feat and exemplifies the technological and scholarly advances of the thirteenth century. I have attached a link to images of Brunelleschi's Dome that shows pictures of both the interior and exterior of the Cathedral of Florence. This link also includes other images of Florence and seems to provide a glimpse into what the area is like.

The Abbot of Suger was a Frankish abbot who helped to design the fist Gothic Cathedral, Saint Dennis. These cathedrals were "three dimensional picture books of stone and glass" and they told the story of Christ through imagery and symbolism. The Abbot of Suger will be remembered for the development of the buttress, which allowed for cathedrals to have a greater amount of interior space. This was an Arab concept and it enabled the structures to have more space without the inconvenience and obstruction of large interior columns. I have posted a link with images and a brief history of the first Gothic Cathedral, Saint Dennis. This link provides images of both the outside and inside of the cathedral, which is only a small glimpse into the grandeur of this magnificent structure.