What new invention allowed the spreading of Renaissance ideas to other parts of northern Europe?  The Printing Press

The Printing Press  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

The printing press made possible the diffusion of Renaissance learning, but no book stimulated thought more at this time than did the Bible. With Gutenberg’s publication of a printed Bible in 1454, scholars gained access to a dependable, standardized text, so Scripture could be discussed and debated as never before. This item is reproduced by permission of The Huntington Library, San Marino, California

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  Cheaper books led to a more literate public  Bible printed in many languages  easier access for the laity  Precursor to Reformation  no need for priest to read God’s words

Other than the printing press, how else did the ideas and art of the Renaissance spread to Europe?

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

Christian Humanism  Focus of movement:  Sources of reform:  Summary statement:

Leaders of the Northern Renaissance Sir Thomas MoreErasmus

Christian Humanism & Reform  northern humanists: more interested than Italians in religious reform & educating laity  Emphasized study of the Bible and church fathers  More interested in providing guidance on personal behavior, less materialistic, and focused on questions of morality and ethics  Emphasized education  A “need to know society” in the North  A number of new universities established in the 1400s in the North, BUT none in Italy  Power of humans to reform institutions (Church) and moral behavior  reteach  Many will become leaders of Reformation

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

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

Humanism & Reform, Catholic humanist reformers pave the way for Protestantism, Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536): most famous northern humanist; Catholic educational & religious reformer, Germany: Reuchlin controversy—humanists defend Christian scholar of Judaism on grounds of academic freedom, England: Thomas More (1478–1535), best-known English humanist; Utopia (1516), France: Guillaume Budé, Jacques Lefèvre, Spain: humanism in service of Catholic Church; Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros: Grand Inquisitor, founder of University of Alcalá, biblical scholar

Renaissance Art in Northern Europe  No. Europe  change was driven by religious reform, the return to Christian values, and the revolt against the authority of the Church.  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.  More princes & kings were patrons of artists.

, Turn of 16 th century, heart of European progress, Thriving economy  central trade routes, Towns sprouted, grew, and traded, Banking expanded:  The Fuggers and other German families controlled more capital than all the Italian bankers and other Europeans combined

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

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

Matthias Grünewald’s The Crucifixion, 1502

Albrecht Dürer ( ), 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.

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

Dürer The Last Supper woodcut, 1510

Durer – The Triumphal Arch,

Dürer Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse woodcut, 1498

, Renaissance fostered by the reign of Elizabeth I (1558— 1603), Intense nationalism gave birth to the Elizabethan Age, William Shakespeare (1564— 1616) reflected the influence of dramatists of the ancient world and Italian writers  Set the standard for the English language

Hans Holbein, the Younger ( ), 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.

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

Holbein’s, The Ambassadors, 1533 A Skull

Multiple Perspectives

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].

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

, French monarchy renewed commerce after 100 Years’ War  expanded the middle class, The bourgeoisie provided an ample source of revenue for the royal treasury, The taille (a direct head tax on all land and property) strengthened the finances of the royal treasury, Renaissance takes hold in France in mid- 1500s

Jean Clouet – Portrait of Francis I, 1525

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

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

, Became of the center of banking and commerce, Wealthier society placed importance on knowledge and art

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

Van Eyck:  The Crucifixion & The Last Judgment 

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

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

Rogier van der Weyden ( ) The Deposition 1435

van der Weyden’s Deposition (details)

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, 

Massys’ The Moneylender & His Wife, 1514

Bruegel’s, Tower of Babel, 1563

Bruegel’s, Mad Meg, 1562

Bruegel’s, The Beggars, 1568

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

Bruegel’s, Niederlandisch Proverbs, 1559

Bruegel’s, The Triumph of Death, 1562

Bruegel’s, Hunters in the Snow, 1565

Bruegel’s, Winter Scene, 1565

Bruegel’s, The Harvesters, 1565

SpainSpain

, Did not receive the Renaissance as openly due the Church’s apprehension to new ideas., Spain’s xenophobia (fear of foreigners) limited the flow of Renaissance ideas, Miguel de Cervantes wrote Don Quixote  Satirized glorification of chivalry and medieval institutions