Renaissance and Reformation in Northern Europe Notes

Renaissance and Reformation in Northern Europe (15th and 16th centuries)

Chronology and Geographic Context

• Development from Gothic to Early Renaissance.

15th Century Art

• Gothic Architecture: Town hall of Bruges.

• Oil Painting:

  • Robert Campin’s Mérode Triptych.

  • Jan van Eyck’s works: Portrait of a Man and Arnolfini Portrait.

• Northern Naturalism: Characterized by attention to detail and realism.

• Woodcuts and Interiors: Buxheim St. Christopher.

• Flemish Influence: Notable works by Van der Weyden and Bosch in Spain.

16th Century Art & Protestant Reformation

• Impact on Art: Transition in styles due to religious changes.

• Key Artists & Works:

  • Grünewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece.

  • Dürer's Self-portrait, Hare, Adam and Eve.

  • Introduction to printmaking techniques: woodcuts, engraving, etching, and drypoint.

Protestant Reformation Summary

• Overview: Conflict between Catholics and Protestants affecting artistic expression.

• Artistic Concerns: Shift towards individual and secular themes led to new genres.

• Painting Hierarchies: Development of history painting, portraits, genre scenes, landscapes, and still lifes.

Iconoclasm & Genre Evolution

• Protestant Iconoclasm: Destruction and defacing of religious art.

• Emerging Genres: History painting prioritized in rankings with genre painting and still lifes gaining popularity.

Notable Techniques and Artists

• Printmaking Techniques: Variety of methods utilized by artists including woodcut and engraving.

• Albrecht Dürer's Influence: Notable for self-portraits and pioneering printmaking.

Recommended Resources

• Gombrich, E. H. (The Story of Art).

• Khan Academy resources on Renaissance and Reformation art.