1. Northern Renaissance

2. Spread of the Renaissance
By the late 15th century, Italian Renaissance thought and ideals had spread to France, Germany, England, most of Northern Europe.
N. Renaissance differed from the Italian Renaissance in some respects
Greater effort than in Italy to reconcile secular and Christian values and attitudes
Infused with a more powerful Christian spirit
Focused more on the ancient texts of Christianity rather than of Romans and Greeks
Studied Latin and Greek, like in Italy, but for editing the Bible and reading writings of Church Fathers
Distinctly religious in character
Although difference, many historians today see more continuity between Italian Ren and Northern Ren than contrasts
Looked at these early Church writings for answers on how to improve society and reform the church
Emphasized education and power of human intellect to bring about institutional change and moral improvement
Writings led to criticism of the church thus leading to the Reformation
Development of print gave northern humanists , the Church, and state new influence to popularize their viewpoints freely and to a wider audience

3. Development of Printing
One of the most important events in the Renaissance outside of Italy
Johannes Gutenberg of Mainz in the German Rhineland around 1440
Printed edition of the Bible- 1456
By 1480, there were over 380 printing presses in operation
Had an immense impact on European civilization, enabling the rapid spread of knowledge and ideas among the educated classes

4. Northern Humanists
Humanism in the Northern Renaissance is referred to as Christian humanism because of the humanists’ efforts to unite classical learning with the Christian faith
Rejected medieval Christianity’s excessive emphasis on other- worldliness
Sought to achieve a balance of otherworldly and secular concerns and regarded classics as guides in that quest
Desire to use knowledge of classics to deepen understanding of the Christian faith
Begin to criticize Catholic Church

5. The Brethren of the Common Life
Contributed to the development of Christian Humanism
Devoted themselves to education based on classical learning and to creating a deep spiritual relationship with Christ and a love for human beings
Founded by Gerard Groote in Holland

6. Erasmus (1466-1536) One of the most famous of the Christian Humanists
Although he was ordained to priesthood, he devoted his life to classical studies
Was a master of the Greek Language
Made new translations of the Greek and Latin versions of the New Testament to create “purer” editions
Devout Catholic who sought to reform the Church, not to destroy it
Born in Holland, educated by the Brethren of the Common Life

7. Praise of Folly first printed in 1511
Satire, ridiculed many attitudes of his own time – ignorance, superstition, and greed
Satire was sharp when it was directed against churchmen who manifested these qualities
Criticized the immorality and hypocrisy of Church leaders and the clergy
Best seller- only the Bible sold more by
Written in Latin- so not for mass consumption
Book inspired renewed calls for reform and influenced Martin Luther
“Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched”

8. Erasmian Humanism
Based on Erasmus’s belief that the Christian religion offered humanity sound guidelines for its moral conduct and that religion and learning were bound together
Even though he was a critic of the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church he was not a Protestant
He had faith in the ability for humans to reform their institutions from within
He did not support Luther’s Reformation- thought of them as even more intolerant than Roman Catholic leadership

9. Thomas More (1478-1535) England’s greatest humanist
Prime example of civic humanist- rose to the highest government position of any humanist
Lord Chancellor to King Henry VIII in England
Most famous work– Utopia
Society based on reason and tolerance
Practiced Christianity free of ignorance and superstition
No private property or desire for profit
Contrasted this society with all the evils existing in his own society
Studied classics at Oxford and studied law at the Inns of Court in London- entered the service of the monarchy

10. Thomas More
Mixes civic humanism with religious ideals to describe a perfect society located on an imaginary island
In order to achieve harmony and order people have to be willing to sacrifice their individual rights for the common good

11. Jacques Lefevre d’Etables (1454-1536)
Leading French humanist and good example of how Northern Christian humanists
Produced 5 versions of the Psalms that challenged a single authoritative version of the Bible

12. Francesco Ximenes de Cisneros (1436-1517)
Spanish humanist who reformed the Spanish clergy and church so that many of the Church abuses highlighted in Reformation didn’t necessarily apply to Spain
Grand Inquisitor of Spanish Inquisition
Shows that not all humanists were necessarily tolerant in views

13. Literature of the northern renaissance

14. French Writers François Rabelais (1494-1553)
Secular writings portrayed his confidence in human nature and reflected Renaissance ideals
Gargantua and Pantagruel
Folk epic and comic masterpiece that satirized French society
Attacked clerical education and monastic orders- championed secular learning

15. French Writers Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
Developed the essay form
A vehicle for testing new ideas
His father was Catholic, while his mother was of Spanish Jewish decent
The mixed religious background of his parents may have led to his skepticism about religious beliefs
Believed that since one could not know anything with absolute certainty, must be tolerant
“A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.”
“We suffer not because something bad happens, but because of how we analyze the situation.”
“Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it.”

16. British Literature Elizabethan period Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Greatest of the English Renaissance authors
Reflected ideas of classical Greek and Roman culture, individualism, and humanism
Wrote comedies, tragedies, histories, and sonnets
Taming of the Shrew, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra

17. Spanish Literature Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
Don Quixote – major work
Critical of excessive religious idealism and chivalric romance
Satire of medieval chivalry- telling story of nobleman who travels the countryside in search of romantic adventures and his accomplice who has common sense and prudence
Presented characters of all kinds and classes
Contemporary of Shakespeare- both men died in 1616 within a few days of eachother

18. Northern Renaissance Art

19. Italian v. Northern Renaissance Art
Specialty:
Ideal Beauty
Intense Realism
Style:
Simplified forms, measured proportions
Lifelike features, unflattering honesty
Subjects:
Religious and mythological scenes
Religious and domestic scenes
Figures:
Heroic male nudes
Prosperous citizens, peasants
Portraits:
Formal, reserved
Reveal individual personality
Technique:
Fresco, tempera, and oil paintings
Oil paintings on wood panels
Emphasis:
Underlying anatomical structure
Visible appearance
Basis of Art:
Theory
Observation
Composition:
Static, balanced
Complex, Irregular
Northerners painted reality as it actually looked, in detail
More emotional than the Italian style
Works sometimes preoccupied with death
Portraits were so accurate that Charles VI of France sent a painter to three different royal courts to paint prospective brides and chose off portraits

20. Jan Van Eyck ( )
Most famous and innovative Flemish painter of the 15th century
Brother Hubert was also a painter- they were first major painters to use oil successfully
Da Vinci actually learned about oils from them
Great attention to minute detail, microscopic detail in vivid color- trained illuminator of manuscripts
Master of portrait painting

21. Van Eyck: The Marriage of the Arnolfini (1434)
Every object is supposed to symbolize the sanctity of marriage
Dog- loyalty
The green of the woman's dress symbolizes hope, possibly the hope of becoming a mother. Her white cap could signify purity, but probably signifies her being married. Behind the pair, the curtains of the marriage bed have been opened; the red curtains might allude to the physical act of love between the married couple
To begin with, Arnolfini does not take his wife's hand in his right hand, but in his left. This appears to symbolize what was called a "left-handed marriage" - a union of unequals, in which the woman was obliged to forfeit all the usual rights of property and inheritance: a procedure not unlike that of a modern day morganatic marriage entered into by a European royal Prince and a commoner. Thus it is probable that the two witnesses are present to validate the financial contract drawn up at the time of such a marriage. They were not necessary for the marriage ceremony itself: in 15th century Bruges, neither priest nor witnesses were needed. A couple could marry themselves, and then confirm the arrangement by attending communion together, the next morning. This is also partially confirmed by the odd sight of a single candle burning in the chandelier: the candle symbolizes the ubiquitous Christ whose invisible presence is witness to the marriage vows.
The woman in the picture is not pregnant: her bulge merely illustrates the contemporary fashion for voluminous robes. Fertility is however alluded to by the wooden carving on the back of a chair, visible underneath the chandelier. The carving, which overlooks the marriage bed, represents St Margaret, the patron saint of childbirth, signalling a wish for a healthy family. To ensure a successful marriage, a dog in included at the couple's feet. This is a symbolic reference to faithfulness.
The woman stands near the bed and well into the room, symbolic of her role as the caretaker of the house, whereas Giovanni stands near the open window, symbolic of his role in the outside world. Arnolfini looks directly out at the viewer, his wife gazes obediently at her husband. His hand is vertically raised, representing his commanding position of authority, whilst she has her hand in a lower, horizontal, more submissive pose. However, her gaze at her husband can also show her equality to him because she is not looking down at the floor as lower class women would

22. The Adoration of the Lamb, 1432
Altar piece in St. Bavon’s cathedral in Ghent

23. Bosch (1450-1516) Netherlands Master of symbolism and fantasy
His art often times look surrealistic (similar to Dali of the 20th century)
Focused on death and torments of Hell
Inventive torments as punishments for sinners
Monsters
He believed that a corrupt mankind, seduced by evil, should suffer calamitous consequences

24. “The Garden of Earthly Delights”
Warning against the dangers of eroticism

25. Brueghel ( )
Flemish
Not influenced much by the Italian Renaissance
Focused on the lives of ordinary people, especially peasants

26. Breughel: The Battle Between Carnival and Lent
(1559)

27. The Battle Between Carnival and Lent
(detail)

28. Breughel: Children’s Games
(1559)

29. Breughel: The Corn Harvest (1565)

30. The Corn Harvest (detail)

31. Breughel: Hunters in the Snow (1565)

32. Breughel: Peasant Wedding (1568/69)

33. Peasant Wedding (detail)

34. Dürer (1471-1528) Native of Nuremberg- major German Renaissance artist
Master of the woodcut
“Leonardo of the North”
First northerner to master Italian techniques of proportion, perspective, and modeling
Painted numerous self-portraits
Painted both religious and classical subjects
Fascinated with nature and studied plants
Very curious and this led to his death- exploring a swamp and caught a fever
Raised artist stature in the north- more respected
Fascinated with his own image
First to use printmaking as a major medium for art

35. Durer: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,
woodcut (1498)

36. Durer: Knight, Death, and the Devil
engraving, (1513)

37. Grünewald (1475-1530) German Rhineland Primarily religious works
Somber and awe- filled crucifixion scenes
The Isenheim altarpiece is best – known work

38. Holbein the Younger (1497-1543)
Premier portrait artist of the era
Painted Erasmus and numerous portraits of Henry VIII
Considerable Italian influence
His father was an important painter in Gothic tradition of medieval German Art

39. El Greco (1541-1614) Greatest painter of the Spanish Renaissance
Studied in Italy with Titan
His paintings reflected his intense religious mysticism and characterized by elongated and distorted figures ‘
Dramatic lighting effects
Greek- Domenicos Theotocopoulis

41. Mannerism
Reaction against the Renaissance ideals of balance, symmetry, simplicity, and realistic use of color
Used unnatural colors with elongated shapes