Transcript Northern Renaissance Artists

THE NORTHERN
RENAISSANCE
Northern vs. Italian Renaissance
• Began in the late-15th century
• Criticized the Church
– Helped lead to the Reformation
• More diverse social backgrounds
• More willing to write for lay people
• Influenced by Italy, but included
independently creative artists
Humanists
• Renaissance humanists were scholars
and literary figures who were deeply
committed to Christianity and religious
themes
• They scorned the dense and often
convoluted writing style of the
scholastic theologians and instead used
the elegant and polished language of
classical Greek and Roman authors and
the early church fathers
– Erasmus’ Praise of Folly attacked
both the dogmatism of scholars and
the ignorance of the masses
Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
published an edition of the New
Testament that served as the
basis for various translations into
the vernacular languages.
Other Great Northern Renaissance Authors
• Thomas More (1478-1535)
– Utopia
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
– Known for his use of language and analysis of character
which reflected a deep understanding of the good and evil
in man
• Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
– Don Quixote
Movable Type
• Johannes Gutenberg’s use
of movable type to print
books accelerated the
spread of classical learning
• Allowed for the mass
production of texts that
spread the cultural heritage
of the classical world
throughout Europe
Northern
Renaissance
Artists
Jan Van Eyck
c. 1395-c. 1441
• Flemish
• Perfected the newly developed technique of
oil painting. His naturalistic panel paintings,
mostly portraits and religious subjects, made
extensive use of disguised religious symbols.
The Arnolfini Marriage 1434
Symbolic candle
The solitary flame burning in bright daylight can be
interpreted as the bridal candle, or God's all-seeing eye, or
simply as a devotional candle. Another symbol is
St Margaret (the patron saint of women in childbirth), whose
image is carved on the high chair back.
An elaborate signature
As today, marriages in 15th-century Flanders could take place
privately rather than in church. Van Eyck's Latin signature, in
the Gothic calligraphy used for
legal documents, reads: ``Jan van Eyck was present'', and has
been interpreted by some as an indication that the artist
himself served as a witness.
Convex mirror
The mirror is painted with almost miraculous skill. Its carved frame is
inset with ten miniature medallions depicting scenes from the life of
Christ. Yet more remarkable is the mirror's reflection, which includes
van Eyck's own tiny self-portrait, accompanied by another man who
may have been the official witness to the ceremony.
Symbol of faithfulness
Almost every detail can be interpreted as a symbol. The companion
dog is seen as a symbol of faithfulness and love. The fruits on the
window ledge probably stand for fertility and our fall from Paradise.
Even the discarded shoes are not thought to be incidental, but to
signify the sanctity of marriage.
Hieronymus Bosch
c. 1450-1516
• From the small Dutch town of Hertogenbosch,
from which he derived his name.
• An eccentric painter of religious visions who
dealt in particular with the torments of hell.
The Ship of Fools
1490-1500
From “WebMuseum”:
• In The Ship of Fools Bosch is imagining that the
whole of mankind is voyaging through the seas of
time on a ship, a small ship, that is representative
of humanity. Sadly, every one of the
representatives is a fool. This is how we live, says
Bosch--we eat, drink, flirt, cheat, play silly games,
pursue unattainable objectives. Meanwhile our
ship drifts aimlessly and we never reach the
harbor. The fools are not the irreligious, since
prominent among them are a monk and a nun,
but they are all those who live ``in stupidity.”
Pieter Brueghel (The Elder)
c.1525-1569
• Flemish painter
• Brueghel painted canvases filled with ordinary
people at weddings, funerals, fairs, and
everyday life. His paintings are miniature
glimpses into the comedy and tragedy of 16thcentury social life.
The Peasant Wedding (1568)
Albrecht Durer
1471-1528
• German
• Painter, printmaker, draughtsman and art
theorist
• His vast body of work includes altarpieces and
religious works, numerous portraits and selfportraits, and copper engravings.
Self-Portrait at 28