1. The
Northern
Renaissance

2. Spread of Renaissance ideas to Germany, England, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and Holland
Economic prosperity in England and Netherlands led to artistic renewal
Religion was emphasized in the North
Social reform through Christian values and living were hallmarks
Pietism emergedmore religious devotion

3. Christian Humanism
Thinkers and writers in the north used Hebrew and Greek texts of the bible to research the past
Many northern humanists went to Italy to study then returned with new ideas
Thirst for knowledge, art, and engineering transferred to N. Europe
Renaissance strongest in Germanic areas and Low Countries

4. The Spread of the Renaissance
A series of battles between French, Spanish, and Italian city-states led to the spread of ideas and values
Teachers migrated out of Italy
Students returned to home country after studying in Italy
European merchants penetrated into Italy
Christian missionaries traveled Europe

5. The Printing Press
1445--Johann Gutenberg invented printing press with moveable type (Mainz, Germany)
precursors: rise of schools & literacy (demand for books); invention of cheap paper
by 1500, printing presses running in more than 200 cities in Europe and over 15 million books in circulation
What effect did the printing press have on the Renaissance and its people?
rulers in church & state now had to deal with more educated, critical public; also powerful tool of religious/political propaganda

6. Christian Humanism & Reform
Emphasized study of the Bible and church fathers
More interested in providing guidance on personal behavior
Emphasized education
Power of humans to reform institutions (Church) and moral behavior
Many will become leaders of Reformation

7. Leaders of Northern Humanism
Thomas More (England)—wrote Utopia (“nowhere”) described a perfect society free of war, poverty, and intolerance
Utopia possible by following Christian ideals
Executed by King Henry VIII

8. Erasmus (Dutch)
most influential northern humanist—educational and religious reformer
Translated Greek and Latin versions of Bible for “purer” version
In Praise of Folly—satirizes clergy’s worldly ambitions
Emphasized tolerance and education
Wanted reform of church, not abandonment like Luther

9. Renaissance Art in Northern Europe
Should not be considered an appendage to Italian art.
But, Italian influence was strong.
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.

10. Characteristics of Northern 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.
Great skill in portraiture.

11. Van Eyck -Adoration of the Lamb, Ghent Altarpiece, 1432

12. Van Eyck:  The Crucifixion & The Last Judgment  1420-1425

13. Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife (Wedding Portrait) Jan Van Eyck 1434

14. Jan van Eyck - Giovanni Arnolfini & His Wife (details)

15. Rogier van der Weyden (1399-1464)
The Deposition
1435

16. van der Weyden’s Deposition (details)

17. Quentin Massys ( )
Belonged to the humanist circle in Antwerp that included Erasmus.
Influenced by da Vinci.
Thomas More called him “the renovator of the old art.”
The Ugly Dutchess, 

18. Massys’ The Moneylender & His Wife, 1514

21. France

22. Jean Clouet – Portrait of Francis I, 1525

23. The School of Fontainebleau
Gallery [right] by Rosso Fiorentino & Francesco Primaticcio

24. Germain Pilon ( )
The Deposition of Christ
Bronze,

25. Germany

26. Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553)
Court painter at Wittenberg from
His best portraits were of Martin Luther (to the left).

27. Lucas Cranach the Elder
Old Man with a Young Woman
Amorous Old Woman with a Young Man

28. Matthias Grünewald’s The Crucifixion, 1502

29. Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) The greatest of German artists.
A scholar as well as an artist.
His patron was the Emperor Maximilian I.
Also a scientist
Wrote books on geometry, fortifications, and human proportions.
Self-conscious individualism of the Renaissance is seen in his portraits.
 Self-Portrait at 26, 1498.

30. Dürer – Self-Portrait in Fur-Collared Robe, 1500

31. Dürer The Last Supper woodcut, 1510

32. Durer – The Triumphal Arch, 1515-1517

33. Dürer Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse woodcut, 1498

34. England

35. Hans Holbein, the Younger (1497-1543)
One of the great German artists who did most of his work in England.
While in Basel, he befriended Erasmus.
Erasmus Writing, 1523 
Henry VIII was his patron from 1536.
Great portraitist noted for:
Objectivity & detachment.
Doesn’t conceal the weaknesses of his subjects.

36. Artist to the Tudors
Henry VIII (left), 1540 and the future Edward VI (above), 1543.

37. Holbein’s, The Ambassadors, 1533
A Skull

38. Multiple Perspectives

39. The English Were More Interested in Architecture than Painting
Hardwick Hall, designed by Robert Smythson in the 1590s, for the Duchess of Shrewsbury [more medieval in style].

40. Burghley House for William Cecil
The largest & grandest house of the early Elizabethan era.

41. The
Low
Countries

42. Bruegel’s, Tower of Babel, 1563

43. Bruegel’s, Mad Meg, 1562

44. Bruegel’s, The Beggars, 1568

45. Bruegel’s, Parable of the Blind Leading the Blind, 1568

46. Bruegel’s, Niederlandisch Proverbs, 1559

47. Bruegel’s, The Triumph of Death, 1562

48. Bruegel’s, Hunters in the Snow, 1565

49. Bruegel’s, Winter Scene, 1565

50. Bruegel’s, The Harvesters, 1565