Northern Renaissance

World History

Differences between Italy and Northern Europe:

Should not be considered a part of Italian art. But, Italian influence was strong.

Painting in OIL, developed in Flanders, was widely adopted in Italy.

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

emphasis on the revival of the values of classical antiquity.

No. Europe change was driven by religious reform, the return to Christian values, and the revolt against the authority of the Church.

More princes & kings were patrons of artists.

Northern European Renaissance Art:

The continuation of late medieval attention to details.

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

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

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

Flemish Artist: Jan van Eyck

More courtly and aristocratic work. Court painter to the

Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good.

The Virgin and Chancellor Rolin, 1435.

German “Leonardo”: Albrecht Durer

The greatest of German artists.

A scholar as well as an artist.

His patron was the Emperor Maximilian I.

Also a scientist Self-conscious individualism

of the Renaissance is seen in his portraits.

Self-Portrait at 26, 1498.

Writers for a New Audience

The growing middle class demanded new works from writers.

Rabelais is a French humanist who wrote dramatic stories.

William Shakespeare is the most famous of all Renaissance writers. He wrote 37 plays during his life and added 1,700 words to the English language.

Scenes from Shakespeare:

The Printing Revolution

Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1456.

By 1500, more than 20 million books had been printed, mostly copies of the Bible.

The printing press opened the door for an educated modern world.

Medieval Europe- Review

Medieval Europe: Daily Life of the peasants Beliefs of the people Death and Disease Fear of Authority

and God

As times changed with the Renaissance, people began to question the Church.

Medieval Church- Review

Church Authority

–The Catholic Church , was the only Church in Western Europe.

–The Bible was only to be read by Priests or Bishops.

–Church services were only in the Latin Language.

However….people began to question these practices.

Life of a Monk

Community Work Prayer Rest Penance Work in the Monastery Meals

Corruption in the Church

Since the Crusades, the Church started selling indulgences.

Indulgences are documents that lessen the punishment for sins in exchange for money.

The Revolt Begins

In 1517, a priest started offering indulgences to anyone who contributed money to rebuild St. Peter’s cathedral in Rome.

This was the last straw for Martin Luther, a German monk.

95 Theses

Luther wrote the 95 Theses or 95 arguments against indulgences.

Luther’s main argument was that faith alone could save people.

Luther was excommunicated by the Church but he continued to preach his message and to encourage people to question the Church.

Luther’s Teachings

Salvation is achieved through faith alone.

The Bible is the sole source of religious truth.

All Christians had equal access to God through faith and the Bible.

Spread of Lutheran Ideas

People believed that Luther’s reforms were the solution to Church corruption.

Peasants banned together to support Luther in hopes for social and economic change. The Peasant’s Revolt of 1524 in Germany left thousands dead after the revolt became violent.

The Peace of Augsburg: in 1555, a settlement was reached that allowed each prince to decide which religion would be followed in his land.

Calvinism: Another Reform

John Calvin was born in France and wrote the Institutes of Christian Religion in 1536.

Calvin believed in many of Luther’s beliefs but he also preached the idea of predestination.

Calvin believed that the world was divided into saints and sinners and that God had decided who would go into heaven a long time ago.

Calvin believed that both men and women should be educated to read the bible. He encouraged women to participate in religion.

Calvinists faced prosecution across Europe.