Italy was in those days not one country, but existed out of little republics and duchies. The centres of cultural life were Firenze, Rome and Venice.
The rest of Europe hold on to the Late-Gothic tradition. Flanders was the most important centre in the North. The influenced the rest of Europe with their �Vlaamse Primitieven� (Flemish Primitives). The influence travelled from one Court to another and some courts became the centre of cultural life, like in the 15th century Bruges and in the 16th century Mechelen and Brussels.
At the end of the 15th century, when art in Ital had reached its high-point, artist from other countries began to make trips to Italy to study the new art, now called the renaissance. The first one to do that was the German artist Albrecht D�rer. After him a lot of artists followed his example. Also prints and copies of works took care of the influence of the Italian style in Europe. Also the travelling of pieces of arts and of Italian artists themselves were important sources.
The renaissance was the common style now. New subjects were stared to being used, like the old Greek and Roman mythology, still-lives and genre scenes.
The artist received another status, no longer the one of an artisan, but of an artist, who was educated and intellectual. Eventually, it was not the piece of art itself that was important, but the concept behind it was praised.
Every important leader was occupied with art and knew the artists personally. They would no longer use the art for the legitimation of the received power as a king, but as the legitimation of the power of their Dynasty. And of course to show the well-fair of their kingdom.