The Northern Renaissance Christian Humanism

Emphasis on early church writings – provided answers on how to improve society and reform the church – Used Hebrew and Greek texts and writing of the Church fathers – Led to criticism of the church

Erasmus Most famous and celebrated of all northern humanists Made new translation of the Greek and Latin version of New Testament – “purer” editions In Praise of Folly (1513) – Criticized immorality and hypocrisy of church leaders and clergy – Inspired new calls for reform Martin Luther

Thomas More ( ) A civic humanist – Lord Chancellor to Henry VIII – Utopia (1516) Mixes civic humanism with religious ideals Sees accumulation of property as a root cause for society’s ills – People must be willing to sacrifice individual rights for the common good – War, poverty, religious intolerance and other problems of early 16 th century do not exist in Utopia

Other Writers Jacques Lefèvre d'Etaples ( ) – Produced 5 versions of the Psalms Challenged single authoritative version of the Bible Francesco Ximenes de Cisneros – Spanish humanist Reformed Spanish clergy and church – Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition – Complutensian Polyglot Bible François Rabelais ( ) – Secular writing portrays confidence in human nature Gargantuan and Pantagruel ( ) – Fold epic and comic masterpiece; championed secular learning Michel de Montaigne – Developed the essay form Skepticism – Doubt that true knowledge could be obtained; thus must be tolerant of other views

Other Writers William Shakespeare – Greatest of the English Renaissance authors Reflected ideas of classical Greek and Roman culture, individualism, and humanism Comedies, tragedies, histories, and sonnets Miguel de Cervantes – Don Quixote Among the greatest pieces of Spanish lit Critical of excessive religious idealism and chivalric romance

Northern Renaissance Art Flemish Style – Heavily influenced by Italy More detail throughout paintings – Oil paints – More emotional – Preoccupied with death

Jan Van Eyck Most famous and innovative of 15 th century Perfected oil painting Naturalistic wood panel; religious symbolism Masterpiece: Ghent Altarpiece (1432) Most famous: Arnolfini and his Wife (1434)

Peter Brueghel the Elder Not really influenced by Italians Focused on lives of ordinary people Peasant Dance Peasant Wedding The Battle Between Carnival and Lent

Germany Albrecht Dürer Foremost northern Renaissance artist Master of the woodcut Master of Italian techniques of proportion, perspective, and modeling Numerous self-portraits Hans Holbein the Younger Painted Erasmus and More, numerous portraits of Henry VIII and family members The Ambassadors Fugger Family

Spain Mannerism Reaction against the ideals of balance, symmetry, simplicity, and realistic use of color Elongated figures, twisted poses, and compression of space El Greco Greek artist who painted in Spain Perhaps greatest of the Mannerists Burial of Count Orgaz