You have just been transported to the year 1500….

Take a moment to enjoy the lute music and think about the following question:

Why did artists need patrons? WHO were the primary patrons of the arts?

Why did patrons need artists?

Now…imagine you are a Renaissance patron…Whose work would you fund? Which work represents Renaissance ideals best and which group does the best job convincing you?

Major differences in art of the Italian/Southern Renaissance and art of the Northern Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance was more religious and more focused on social improvement. Northern Renaissance paintings tended to depict the daily life of peasants, and biblical scenes (often “end of the world” style biblical scenes)

In other words…..While the Italian Renaissance focused on making the world more beautiful, and sometimes using religious themes to do it…the Northern Renaissance focused on the improvement of society – whether through valuing peasant life in art, or cautioning what bad behavior would bring.More on Northern vs. Southern later…..