Discuss the origins of developments in art and literature during the Renaissance.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the origins of major developments in art and literature during the Renaissance. Origins could be considered to mean key influences in both areas. Developments in art, arguably, originated from trade with the east giving access to new pigments (lapis lazuli and vermilion). A more vibrant realistic painting style developed. The wealth of Italian city states supported the continuation of these developments. The Papacy was also a significant patron of the visual arts. In literature, the developments originated in the wider study of the Classics, again a consequence of trade. This led to the emergence of Humanist ideas that emphasized the importance of the cultivated individual. Literature became more secular as the influence of the Church declined and consideration was given to the role of the individual within the political sphere. Candidates may offer equal coverage of art and literature, or they may prioritize their discussion of art. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response.