I believe that the bulk of people who like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo give the Italian Early Renaissance much too little credit. The last three sketches are my favorites. Piero della Francesca's (particularly the Risen Christ) and Masaccio's (Brancacci Chapel) frescoes are my favorites. Also, Giotto. Ghirlandaio, Michelangelo's instructor, created a lovely portrait of a grandpa and his grandson, which is now in the Louvre. The majesty of Donatello's sculpture of Mary Magdalene is stunning.
