Northern Renaissance; Jasper HS humanities

Differences between Italian & Northern Renaissance art

-Extremely realistic; unidealized “lumpy dumpy and bumpy”, extreme detail

-Symbolism

-Printmaking

-Religious subjects

-Lack of composition; no symmetry

-Cooler toned lights due to geography.

Differences between the Italian & Northern Renaissance

Focus on immorality of human nature; foolery, sin

Religious tone

Domestic life

Private citizens, not churches, paid for art

Geography was a major influence; stained glass windows, no frescoes, no marble, no decoration

Jan van Eyck

Painter in the Northern Renaissance

Oil paints →realism and precise details

Double Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck

Meticulous detail

Realistic depiction of everyday life

Objects symbolize wealth & other themes

Religious Tone

Lack of classical humanism,

-A lot of religious art (especially crucifixion)/depictions of peasant life (protestant reformation)

Hieronymus Bosch

Dutch painter

Painted everyday life

Created highly surrealistic works w/ religious themes

Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch

Showcased transition from Early Netherlandish (preceding movement) →Northern Renaissance art

Surreal landscape, fantastic beasts

Explores creation, sin, and judgement

Memonto mori

Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die”

Woodcut

Wooden printmaking technique

Carve into block of wood

Engraving

Printmaking technique using metal

Carve lines into metal plate; allowed for details

Albrecht Durer

Master print maker

Utilized prints to spread his art & become famous

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Albrecht Durer

Symbolized biblical key fears in Northern Renaissance of the last judgement (apocalypse) through figures representing conquest, war, famine, & death

Self-portrait by Albrecht Durer

Realism

Humanism (self-awareness + self-promotion)

Matthias Grunewald

German Northern Renaissance painter

Ignored Renaissance classicism

Expressive and emotional; continuation of late medieval period & gothic style

Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald

Intense depiction of the Crucifixion & Resurrection

Religious & medical themes

Hans Holbein the Younger

German painter in Northern Renaissance in court under King Henry VIII

Precise portraits

Realism, detail & humanism

Portrait of Henry VIII

Depiction of the king’s status & authority

Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Northern Renaissance artist

Portrayed everyday/peasant life; celebrated common mass of humanity (often a neglected viewpoint)

Peasant Wedding by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Portrayed everyday peasant life

Interpretations range from being literal to having deeper meanings (indulgence)

Linear perspective

Usage of lines to create the illusion of space & depth in a flat work of art

• Layering paint, paying close attention to detail

• Utilize oil paints

• One point perspective is a type of linear perspective