1. Northern Renaissance

2. North vs. Italy
“Northern” Renaissance applies to any European country outside of Italy
Predominant areas: France, Netherlands, and Germany
Northern maintained Gothic period of art for a longer time (into the 16th century instead of 15th)
Northern did not have the free commerce areas that Italy held with one exception: Burgundy
Burgundy: area that was from the middle to the Northern sea of what we now know as France
Without a wealthy merchant class like Italy and Burgundy, there are no wealthy patrons of art
Northern patrons interested in illuminated manuscripts (still), tapestries and furnishings
To recap: Italian patrons wanted paintings, architecture and sculpture
Northern not happy with the religious ideals from Rome and created religious works intended to espouse their ideals

3. Compositional differences
***Northern:
not as concerned with scientific influence upon art (proportion, linear perspective)
interested in color before form
incorporated extensive amounts of details
Inverted, distant mirror reflections
Used wood and developed oil paints due to geophysical factors

4. Similarities Both included religious ideology
Both utilized the concept of guilds or apprenticeships in studios to learn professional craft
Both had a dominant center: Italy had Florence and Burgundy had Flanders

5. Notable artists Jan van Eyck c. 1395-1441 Belgium
Career field in Court
Lucrative positions that paired him with Philip the Good, Duke of Burgandy
The Good became close personal friend: godfather to one of Eyck’s children, supported Eyck’s widow, etc
His financial independence allowed him to pursue painting as a second career

6. Eyck’s style Included signature, which is unusual for time
Painted mirrors or reflective surfaces in backgrounds of artworks to include other subjects in environment off canvas
Mastered the new medium of oil paint

7. The Arnolfini Marriage

8. Albrecht Durer 1471-1528 Born in Germany
Father a goldsmith, where he apprenticed
His amazing talent for figure drawing caused for a switch in apprenticeship to a painter
Most known for his amazing works in print and drawing

9. The Four Horseman of the Apocolypse

10. The Knight, Death and the Devil

11. Erasmus

12. Self Portrait at 26

13. Resources

14. comparative Andrea del Verrocchio
Jan Gossaert, called Mabuse (attr. to)
Madonna of the Fireplace