The concept of the Northern Renaissance or German Renaissance is somewhat confused by the continuation of the use of elaborate Gothic ornament until well into the 16th century, even in works that are undoubtedly Renaissance in their treatment of the human figure and other respects. More importantly, book-printing developed in Germany, and German printers dominated the new book-trade in most other countries until well into the 16th century. It benefited from the wealth of certain sectors such as metallurgy, mining, banking and textiles. At the beginning of the 16th century, Germany (referring to the lands contained within the Holy Roman Empire) was one of the most prosperous areas in Europe despite a relatively low level of urbanization compared to Italy or the Netherlands. The Renaissance was largely driven by the renewed interest in classical learning, and was also the result of rapid economic development. Important architecture of this period includes the Landshut Residence, Heidelberg Castle, the Augsburg Town Hall as well as the Antiquarium of the Munich Residenz in Munich, the largest Renaissance hall north of the Alps. The most significant German Renaissance artist is Albrecht Dürer especially known for his printmaking in woodcut and engraving, which spread all over Europe, drawings, and painted portraits. He studied the Hebrew language, aiming to purify Christianity, but encountered resistance from the church. Another important figure was Johann Reuchlin (1455–1522) who studied in various places in Italy and later taught Greek. Eventually he devoted his time to poetry, in which he praised Germany in Latin.

Heavily influenced by Tacitus, he used the Germania to introduce German history and geography. Celtis studied at Cologne and Heidelberg, and later travelled throughout Italy collecting Latin and Greek manuscripts. One of the most important German humanists was Konrad Celtis (1459–1508).

Germany produced two developments that were to dominate the 16th century all over Europe: printing and the Protestant Reformation. There were many advances made in the fields of architecture, the arts, and the sciences. Many areas of the arts and sciences were influenced, notably by the spread of Renaissance humanism to the various German states and principalities.

The German Renaissance, part of the Northern Renaissance, was a cultural and artistic movement that spread among German thinkers in the 15th and 16th centuries, which developed from the Italian Renaissance. First page of a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, now in Texas

Renaissance portraits