The 16^th-century Italian Renaissance was dominated by three great artists who set the highest standard for expressing the beauty of the human form and nature. Their major works in all disciplines continued to dominate the form and style of Western European art for centuries, and still inspire artists today. We will examine the major paintings, sculptures, and architectural works by these three artists, emphasizing what makes them exemplary and innovative. What was the artists’ relationship to one another, and to what extent did they influence, inspire, and compete with each other?