Northern Renaissance describes the Renaissance period that was in development in Northern Europe during the late 15th Century, or, more broadly, in Europe outside of Italy. Renaissance art styles adapted to local circumstances as it moved across Europe. During this period, while the Italians were producing artworks with Greek and Roman motifs, German and Netherlandish painters composed paintings that tended towards religious themes. By the 16th Century, Italians began to favor mythological or historical themes, while the Northern Renaissance painters decided to explore other subject matters, such as landscape and genre painting.