The reincarnation of the culture. Art as we know it today did not exist when the revolutionary work of Renaissance artists had paved the road. The Renaissance, which is generally regarded as the most important and influential movement in the history of fine arts, literature, architecture and science, marked the exodus of Western civilization from the Middle Ages until the modern era. This movement in 14th century Italy began to spread late 15th century throughout Europe. The major art centers were Florence, the Low Countries and Germany. For the first time, intellectual art, influenced by humanism, artists experimented with secular subjects and the resurrected classics. The Italians made progress in anatomy and geometry, the Flemish painting techniques used new oil, and wood carvings and engravings were the specialties of the Germans.