---
title: "Secularization of Art — AP Euro Definition & Examples"
description: "Secularization of art is the Renaissance shift toward portraits, mythology, and everyday life as subjects. Learn how it ties to humanism on the AP Euro exam."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-euro/key-terms/secularization-of-art"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP European History"
unit: "Unit 1"
---

# Secularization of Art — AP Euro Definition & Examples

## Definition

Secularization of art is the Italian Renaissance trend of producing more non-religious artworks, like portraits, mythological scenes, and depictions of daily life, reflecting humanist values of secularism and individualism rather than purely theological themes (AP Euro Topic 1.2).

## What It Is

Secularization of art means that during the [Italian Renaissance](/ap-euro/unit-1/italian-renaissance/study-guide/RGO3uYzzg18wdUjgwGdK "fv-autolink"), more and more artworks took on non-religious subjects. Medieval art was overwhelmingly religious, made for churches and meant to teach Christian stories. [Renaissance](/ap-euro/unit-1/printing/study-guide/XZd2qonSjHGT7ZV8uGNv "fv-autolink") artists kept making religious art, but they also started painting wealthy merchants' portraits, scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, and slices of everyday life. The subject matter widened.

This didn't happen randomly. It grew straight out of [humanism](/ap-euro/key-terms/humanism "fv-autolink"). When humanists like Petrarch revived classical texts, they also revived classical values, including secularism (focus on this world, not just the afterlife) and individualism (the worth of the individual person). Art followed the ideas. A portrait of a Florentine banker celebrates an individual human life. A painting of Venus pulls its subject from pagan mythology, not the Bible. The CED ties this directly to humanists who 'furthered the values of secularism and individualism' (KC-1.1.I.A). Patronage mattered too. Wealthy city-state elites, and even popes concerned with their own prestige, commissioned art to glorify themselves and their families, not just God.

## Why It Matters

This term lives in **[Unit 1](/ap-euro/unit-1 "fv-autolink"): Renaissance and Exploration, Topic 1.2 (Italian Renaissance)**, and it's one of the cleanest pieces of evidence for two learning objectives. For **1.2.A**, [secular art](/ap-euro/key-terms/secular-art "fv-autolink") shows how the revival of classical texts shaped the Renaissance, because mythological paintings literally put ancient Greek and Roman stories back on canvas. For **1.2.B**, it's a cultural effect of the Renaissance you can point to directly. The CED notes that admiration for classical culture 'produced secular models for individual and political behavior' (KC-1.1.I.C), and art is where you can actually see that happening. If an exam question asks you to explain how Renaissance culture differed from medieval culture, secularization of art is one of your strongest, most concrete answers.

## Connections

### [Humanism (Unit 1)](/ap-euro/key-terms/humanism)

Secularization of art is humanism made visible. Humanists argued that human life in this world deserved attention and celebration, and artists translated that idea into portraits of real people and scenes of daily life. If you can explain humanism, you can explain why art secularized.

### [Classical Texts (Unit 1)](/ap-euro/key-terms/classical-texts)

Revived Greek and Roman texts handed artists a whole new library of non-Christian subjects. Mythological paintings only exist because humanists dug those stories out of ancient manuscripts. This is the cause-and-effect chain LO 1.2.A wants you to explain.

### [Civic Humanism (Unit 1)](/ap-euro/key-terms/civic-humanism)

[Civic humanism](/ap-euro/key-terms/civic-humanism "fv-autolink") celebrated active participation in city-state life, and secular art served that culture. Portraits of merchants and statues honoring civic leaders glorified the city and its citizens, not just the Church. Patronage by Italian elites tied art directly to political prestige.

### [Church's authority (Unit 1)](/ap-euro/key-terms/churchs-authority)

The humanist revival of [classical texts](/ap-euro/key-terms/classical-texts "fv-autolink") challenged the Church's institutional grip on education and culture (KC-1.1.I.B). Secular art is part of that same shift. The Church was no longer the only patron and Christianity no longer the only subject, even though popes themselves commissioned art to boost their prestige.

## On the AP Exam

No released FRQ has used the phrase 'secularization of art' verbatim, but the concept is a workhorse for Unit 1 questions. Multiple-choice stems often pair a Renaissance image or quote with a question asking what cultural shift it reflects, and 'a move toward secular and individualist values' is a classic correct answer. On an LEQ or SAQ asking about the effects of the Italian Renaissance or how it differed from the medieval period, secular art is concrete, specific evidence you can describe in a sentence. The key skill is linking cause to effect. Don't just say 'art became secular.' Say WHY: humanist revival of classical texts promoted secularism and individualism, and patrons like merchants and popes commissioned art for personal and political prestige.

## Secularization of art vs Secularism

Secularism is the broader humanist value, an emphasis on worldly, non-religious concerns. Secularization of art is one specific result of that value, the actual trend of artists producing more non-religious works. Think of secularism as the idea and secularization of art as the idea showing up on canvas. On the exam, secularism explains causes; secular art works as evidence of effects.

## Key Takeaways

- Secularization of art means Renaissance artists increasingly depicted non-religious subjects like portraits, mythology, and everyday life, a major break from medieval art's nearly exclusive religious focus.
- The trend was driven by humanism, since the revival of classical texts promoted secularism and individualism, and artists translated those values into their subject matter (KC-1.1.I.A).
- Secularization did not mean religious art disappeared; popes and rulers kept commissioning religious works, often to enhance their own prestige (KC-1.1.III.A).
- Wealthy patrons in the Italian city-states, especially merchants and civic leaders, commissioned secular art to celebrate themselves, their families, and their cities.
- On the exam, secular art is strong specific evidence for LO 1.2.B when explaining the cultural effects of the Italian Renaissance or contrasting Renaissance and medieval culture.

## FAQs

### What is the secularization of art in AP Euro?

It's the Italian Renaissance trend (Topic 1.2) of producing more non-religious art, including portraits, mythological scenes, and depictions of everyday life. It reflects the humanist values of [secularism](/ap-euro/key-terms/secularism "fv-autolink") and individualism spreading from classical texts into culture.

### Did Renaissance art stop being religious?

No. Religious art remained hugely important, and popes were among the biggest patrons of the era, often commissioning works to enhance their own prestige. Secularization means the share of non-religious art grew, not that religious art vanished.

### How is secularization of art different from secularism?

Secularism is the humanist value of focusing on this world rather than only the afterlife. Secularization of art is that value put into practice, the actual production of portraits, mythology, and daily-life scenes. One is the cause, the other is the visible effect.

### Why did Renaissance art become more secular?

Two main reasons. Humanists like Petrarch revived classical texts, which supplied mythological subjects and promoted secularism and individualism, and wealthy patrons in the Italian city-states commissioned art to celebrate themselves and their cities rather than only the Church.

### Is secularization of art on the AP Euro exam?

Yes, as part of Unit 1 (Topic 1.2, Italian Renaissance). It supports learning objectives 1.2.A and 1.2.B, and it commonly appears in stimulus-based MCQs about Renaissance values and as evidence in essays about the cultural effects of the Renaissance.

## Related Study Guides

- [1.2 Italian Renaissance](/ap-euro/unit-1/italian-renaissance/study-guide/RGO3uYzzg18wdUjgwGdK)

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