Chapter 17Section 2

The Northern Renaissance

Renaissance Art in Northern Renaissance Art in Northern EuropeEurope

Should not be considered an appendage to Should not be considered an appendage to Italian art.Italian art.

But, Italian influence was strong.But, Italian influence was strong. Painting in OIL, developed in Flanders, was Painting in OIL, developed in Flanders, was

widely adopted in Italy.widely adopted in Italy.

The differences between the two cultures:The differences between the two cultures: ItalyItaly change was inspired by humanism with change was inspired by humanism with

its emphasis on the revival of the values of its emphasis on the revival of the values of classical antiquity.classical antiquity.

N. EuropeN. Europe change was driven by religious change was driven by religious reform, the return to Christian values, and the reform, the return to Christian values, and the revolt against the authority of the Church.revolt against the authority of the Church.

More princes & kings were patrons of More princes & kings were patrons of artists.artists.

Characteristics of Northern Characteristics of Northern Renaissance ArtRenaissance Art

The continuation of late medieval The continuation of late medieval attention to details.attention to details.

Tendency toward realism & naturalism Tendency toward realism & naturalism [less emphasis on the “classical ideal”].[less emphasis on the “classical ideal”].

Interest in landscapes.Interest in landscapes. More emphasis on middle-class and More emphasis on middle-class and

peasant life.peasant life. Details of domestic interiors.Details of domestic interiors. Great skill in portraiture.Great skill in portraiture.

The Northern Renaissance Begins

By the late 1400s, Renaissance ideas had spread to Northern Europe

Especially: England, France, Germany, and Flanders (now part of France and the Netherlands).

End of Hundred Years War in 1453 sparks growth in Flanders

The Northern Renaissance Begins

England and France were unified under strong monarchs

Francis I of France invited Leonardo da Vinci to retire in France

Fontainebleau castle became a showcase for Renaissance art

artists were especially interested in realism

The School of FontainebleauThe School of Fontainebleau

, It revolved around the artists at Francis I’s Palace at Fontainebleau.

, A group of artists that decorated the Royal Palace between the 1530s and the 1560s.

, It was an offshoot of the Mannerist School of Art begun in Italy at the end of the High Renaissance. characterized by a refined elegance, with

crowded figural compositions in which painting and elaborate stucco work were closely integrated.

Their work incorporated allegory in accordance with the courtly liking for symbolism.

The School of FontainebleauThe School of Fontainebleau

, Gallery [right] by Rosso Fiorentino & Francesco Primaticcio

, 1528-1537

Artistic Ideas Spread

War in Italy resulted in artists War in Italy resulted in artists moving to Northern Europe for moving to Northern Europe for safer lifestylesafer lifestyle

N. European artists who studied in Italy carried Renaissance ideas back to their homelands

German Painters

1494-Albrecht Dürer studied in Italy woodcuts and engravings emphasis upon realism

Hans Holbein the Younger portraits almost photographic in detail Emigrated to England Painted portraits of King Henry VIII

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) The greatest of German The greatest of German

artists.artists. A scholar as well as an A scholar as well as an

artist.artist. His patron was the His patron was the

Emperor Maximilian I.Emperor Maximilian I. Also a scientistAlso a scientist

Wrote books on Wrote books on geometry, fortifications, geometry, fortifications, and human proportions.and human proportions.

Self-conscious Self-conscious individualism of the individualism of the Renaissance is seen in Renaissance is seen in his portraits.his portraits.

Self-Portrait at 26Self-Portrait at 26, , 1498.1498.

Dürer – Dürer – Self-Portrait in Fur-Self-Portrait in Fur-Collared RobeCollared Robe, 1500, 1500

Durer – Durer – The Triumphal ArchThe Triumphal Arch, , 1515-15171515-1517

The Triumphal ArchThe Triumphal Arch, details, details

The Triumphal ArchThe Triumphal Arch, details, details

Hans Holbein, the Younger Hans Holbein, the Younger (1497-1543)(1497-1543)

One of the great German One of the great German artists who did most of his artists who did most of his work in England.work in England.

While in Basel, he While in Basel, he befriended Erasmus.befriended Erasmus. Erasmus WritingErasmus Writing, 1523 , 1523

Henry VIII was his patron Henry VIII was his patron

from 1536.from 1536. Great portraitist noted for:Great portraitist noted for:

Objectivity & Objectivity & detachment.detachment.

Doesn’t conceal the Doesn’t conceal the weaknesses of his weaknesses of his subjects.subjects.

Artist to the TudorsArtist to the Tudors

Henry VIII (left), 1540 and the future Edward VI (above), 1543.

Holbein’s, Holbein’s, The AmbassadorsThe Ambassadors, , 15331533

A SkullA Skull

Multiple PerspectivesMultiple Perspectives

Flemish Painters Flanders-the artistic center of northern

Europe Jan van Eyck

Used oil-based paints layers of paint created a variety of subtle colors in clothing

and jewels Pieter Bruegel the Elder

skillful in portraying large numbers of people everyday peasant life

Giovanni Arnolfini and His

Wife

(Wedding Portrait)

Jan Van

Eyck

1434

Jan van EyckJan van Eyck - Giovanni Arnolfini & His - Giovanni Arnolfini & His WifeWife

(details)(details)

Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569)1569)

One of the greatest artistic geniuses of his age.One of the greatest artistic geniuses of his age. Worked in Antwerp and then moved to Brussels.Worked in Antwerp and then moved to Brussels. In touch with a circle of Erasmian humanists.In touch with a circle of Erasmian humanists. Was deeply concerned with human vice and Was deeply concerned with human vice and

follies.follies. A master of landscapes; not a portraitist.A master of landscapes; not a portraitist.

People in his works often have round, blank, heavy People in his works often have round, blank, heavy faces.faces.

They are expressionless, mindless, and sometimes They are expressionless, mindless, and sometimes malicious.malicious.

They are types, rather than individuals.They are types, rather than individuals. Their purpose is to convey a message.Their purpose is to convey a message.

Bruegel’s, Bruegel’s, Tower of BabelTower of Babel, , 15631563

Bruegel’s, Bruegel’s, Mad MegMad Meg, 1562, 1562

Bruegel’s, Bruegel’s, The BeggarsThe Beggars, 1568, 1568

Bruegel’s, Bruegel’s, Parable of the Blind Parable of the Blind Leading the BlindLeading the Blind, 1568, 1568

Bruegel’s, Bruegel’s, Niederlandisch ProverbsNiederlandisch Proverbs, , 15591559

Northern Writers Try to Reform Society Italian humanists were very

interested in reviving classical languages and classical texts

Northern humanists were critical of the failure of the Church to inspire people to live a Christian life

Christian humanism focused on the reform of society

Christian Humanists

Desiderius Erasmus wrote The Praise of Folly in order to improve society, all people

should study the Bible Thomas More wrote Utopia

an imaginary land where greed, corruption, and war have been weeded out

More wrote in Latin, but later translated when popular

Women’s Reforms

formal schooling - usually sent only their sons

Christine de Pizan First woman to earn a living as a writer Wrote in French Men frequently made objections to

educating women She questioned different treatment of

boys and girls

Sir Thomas More,Lord Chancellor of

England

The Elizabethan Age

Renaissance spread to England in the mid-1500s

known as the Elizabethan Age, after Queen Elizabeth I

Well-rounded education She supported the development of

English art and literature

William Shakespeare

People regard him as the greatest playwright of all time

He revealed the souls of men and women through scenes of dramatic conflict Tragedies: Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello,

Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear Comedies: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

and The Taming of the Shrew

Printing Spreads Renaissance Ideas

Around 1045, Bi Sheng of China invented movable type most Chinese printers found movable type

impractical due to large number of characters Gutenberg Improves the Printing

Process 13th century - blockprinted items

reached Europe from China. Too slow and laborious for demand

Johann Gutenberg improved processGutenberg Bible first full-sized book printed with movable type

The Legacy of the Renaissance Changes in the Arts

• Art drew on techniques and styles of classical Greece and Rome.

• Paintings and sculptures portrayed individuals and nature in more realistic and lifelike ways.

• Artists created works that were secular as well as those that were religious.

•Writers began to use vernacular languages to express their ideas.

• The arts praised individual achievement.

Changes in Society • Printing changed society by making

more information available and inexpensive enough for society at large.

• A greater availability of books prompted an increased desire for learning and a rise in literacy throughout Europe.

• Published accounts of new discoveries, maps, and charts led to further

discoveries in a variety of fields. • Published legal proceedings made

the laws clear so that people were more

likely to understand their rights. • Christian humanists’ attempts to

reform society changed views about how

life should be lived. • People began to question political

structures and religious practices