People Took Pictures, Only To Realize It Was ‘Accidental Renaissance’

Generally, scholars agree that the Renaissance lasted from the 14th to the 17th century.

However, its influence is still evident in modern society, and a fun example of this is the appropriately titled subreddit 'Accidental Renaissance.'

This online community shares pictures that unintentionally evoke the aesthetic and thematic elements of the famous past era. Maybe it's true what Oscar Wilde once said, "life imitates art far more than art imitates life."

Continue scrolling to check out the images, and don't miss the conversation we had with art historian Dr. Sally Hickson. You'll find it spread in between the pictures.

12 PHOTOS

#1 Chaplain Ivan Of The Orthodox Church Of Ukraine Reads A Prayer For Ukrainian Servicemen

#2 Surveying The Feast

Many describe the Renaissance as a period of European cultural, artistic, political, and economic "rebirth" that took place after the Middle Ages.

To gain a better understanding of how it came about and the key ideas of the time, we contacted Dr. Sally Hickson, who is an Associate Professor of Renaissance Art History at the University of Guelph, Canada.

"The Renaissance is usually thought to be about the rediscovery of the individual, but I think it's more about the rediscovery of the 'self' as opposed to the collective sensibility of the Middle Ages," she told Pictolic.

"It's about locating meaning in human experience rather than fixating on the Christian belief in the glories of the afterlife."

#3 Ballet Dancers Photographed After A Performance

#4 His Fur In This Lighting Looks Like An Oil Painting

#5 Parents Hugging Their Daughter After Her Face Transplant

According to Hickson, the Renaissance was guided by the idea that the human experience of the world can lead to spiritual enlightenment; a new appreciation of nature, the senses, the body, the mind, and human potential.

Medieval art, on the other hand, was "more 'abstract' in that people weren't meant to imagine themselves as part of the imagery (most of it religious) — they're supposed to be overwhelmed and lost in all the gold and splendor and blinded by the light. In the Renaissance, people begin to see themselves."

#6 Raising Caterpillars. A Lot Of People Told Me That This Picture Looks Like A Painting

#7 My Granduncle Having Dinner In A Dark Room

#8 Isle Of Skye Stein Inn

#9 I Was Told My Image Would Go Well Here. Thoughts?

However, what helps the members of the 'Accidental Renaissance' subreddit determine whether or not a particular picture belongs to their collection?

"The widespread use of single-point perspective is a key to recognizing early Renaissance works," Hickson explained.

"You know, tiny figures contained within a perfectly proportional world, usually including architectural settings that help to set the scale."

#10 A Flemish Masterpiece

#11 Florence And The Crowd

#12 Someone Told Me This Dramatic Floor Belonged Here

Talking about other common characteristics, there's also a focus on nature, but Hickson stressed that it's usually an idealized version of it. "It's all about creating a perfect image of the world," she highlighted.

"Along with the usual altarpieces and depictions of saints, there's an interest in mythological scenes — the reimagining of the ancient world."