16th Century Art in Northern Europe - Germany and France, Part one
Lesson Intro: Engraving by Albrecht Durer in 1514
* Bat with wings exposed has "melancholia" written out.
- Similar to Melancholy; sadness, boredom, drowsy
* Artists believed in this period that melancholy took three forms each with its own negative consequences. Each was to a specific type of person.
- 2nd form of melancholy is the limitation of scientists and physicians: Reason
- 3rd form affected theologians: limitation of intuition
- 1st form affected artists: Imagination
* All woodworking tools on bottom, an hourglass on top, compass for drawing a perfect circle for. Tools used for more mathematical, geometrical tasks. Contrast between tools that exist here
- Tools of geometry, of perfection. Then everyday craftsmen-like tools. Durer spent much time in Italy and he was influenced by the Renaissance--he was affected by the role of Ideal form. But he lived and existed in Germany.
* Artists were considered craftsmen in their country because they worked with their own hands, not necessarily just their minds.
* Contrast between everyday hard work and mathematical perfection artwork. Both are needed to create many of the featured elements like the polyhedron and perfect sphere and magical cube in the upper right corner
* Artist featured seems stuck, perplexed, limited by imagination. May indeed be a spiritual self portrait of himself--Durer is saying although he has all the knowledge and gifts to create artwork, he himself is stuck and limited by imagination.
- Might be suggestive of the conflicts in society, or conflicts in northern Europe.
The Reformation and the Arts
* Key events in the Protestant Reformation
- 1517 - Martin Luther propounds his 95 theses at Wittenberg (ninety-five issues he had with the Catholic church). During this time, Catholic church moved away from spiritually based lesson and was influenced by wealth and greed. So, he "started his own church--Lutheran, Lutheranism.
- 1534 - Henry VIII of England breaks from Rome*; founds Church of England. Done for more selfish reasons. Henry had issues with getting a male heir to his throne, but divorce was unaccepatble in Catholicism. Nevertheless, he kept beheading his wives and doing terrible things. Church refused to recognize his own marriages, so he broke away.
[* Center of Vatican City or the Catholic Church is in Rome.
- Lutheranism recognized in Germany by the Holy Roman Empire at the peace of Augsburg.
Effects on the Art world: In past biggest commissioner, patron of the arts was Catholic Church. But it was now split into distinct regions
- Northern Europe Switzerland, England, the Netherlands, and parts of Germany were all Protestant (not really)
- Southern Europe--Spain, France, Italy, etc. remained Catholic.
- Artists in northern Europe now lacked these commissions.
New Themes in Art
* Less religious because Catholic Church is not offering as many commisions
* Portraits | Ex: Self portrait of Albrecht Dürer. Done in year 1500, only 28.
* Secular Subjects. Non-religious subjects.
* Landscapes
* Still-life
- A lot of the artwork religiously orientated and related to the Catholic Church was destroyed by Protestant Zealots, individuals passionate to reform church. Smashing and destruction of religious pieces of work was called Iconoclasm.
Tilman Riemenschneider
* Altarpiece of the Holy Blood by Tilman Riemenschneider, done during 1499-1505.
- Gigantic altarpiece, spans almost 30 feet.
- He was not commissioned to construct the skeleton or the bones of the altarpiece. Rather, it was his job to put together the scenery and the figures inside.
- Center of altarpiece shows his interpretation (influenced by Reformation) of the Last Supper. | Last supper was the last supper Jesus had with his apostles before being killed
- Shows Apostle Judas in center. It is displaying the moment Jesus says one of the twelve men will betray him. Eye contact between Jesus and Judas*
[* Judas sells out Jesus' hiding place for 30 pieces of silver.
| Reformation attempts to simplify and boil down religion to its fundamental qualities
- Instead of divinely inspired work or exagerrated scene, this Protestant work focuses on humanity and the betrayal and the weakness, sinfulness of man
Hans Krug: German Metalwork
* Passed away in 1519, had two sons that he worked with Hans the Younger, Ludwig.
- Krugs were the most influential and most renowned metalworkers in all of Deutschland
- Ex work: Silver-gilded apple cup. Top can be removed.
German Metalwork
* Process in which many hands were involved. Krugs did not come up for inspiration for this design, nor the models for final piece. They were responsible for the casting, working with the molten metal itself.
- Artists such as Albrecht Dürer (who may have inspired this cup) were responsible for the intial drawing, plan for it. Then other artists would come and model it. Then final crew like Krugs would come in and cast the piece.
- Germany was the center for metalwork in Europe
| Albrecht Dürer: Woodcut
- Traditionally woodcuts struggled capturing fine details as opposed to copper. Engravings and metal were more effective
* EX: Called "The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse" by him in 1497-1498.
* Durer was foremost artist during this period, he was studious observant etc. He was very self assured or self confidence, similar to Michelangelo in the past.
- Comes from Book of Revelation. Historically, a straight forward depiction would come out, but Durer comes with an energetic composition... with four figures coming out of nowhere at the audience.
In 1490 for 10-15 yrs, Durer traveled to different parts of Europe, particularly Switzerland and Italy, so he was influenced by the Renaissance. Can be seen in the full body figures, moving away from traditional German compositional designs, creating something unique.
Definitions:
Reformation - a movement led by Martin Luther to reform the Catholic Church, leading to a separation
Protestantism - a branch of Christianity formed in opposition to Catholicism during the Reformation
Iconoclasm - the smashing of religious images
secular - non-religious
Altarpiece - a picture or relief representing a religious subject
woodcut - a relief printing technique in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood
Hans Krug - a famous gold and silversmith in Nuremburg
Albrecht Dürer - a German printer, painter, and printmaker from Nuremburg
Albrecht Altdorfer - A German painter, printmaker, and architect of the Renaissance era
16th Century Art in Northern Europe (Germany and France, Part two.
Albrecht Durer: Painting
Protestant Reformation occuring introduces new Themes into painting:
- New emphasis placed on vernacular, common aspects of German and European culture in General. Since the Catholi Church is not as prominent or powerful in Northern Europe, the church is not a major patron. So artists are developing new Themes to find new patrons or outlets for their work.
Ex: of new theme--portraiture. Called "A Portrait of A Young Venetian Woman." By Dürer in 1505. No symbolic references, or religious symbolism shown. It is simply a portrait of a ventian woman.
- Likely a consequence of new theme in art, where porrtaiture becomes popular
- Also idea that art has moved towards secular themes
- Perhaps Durer has been commissioned by a young Venetian woman who just wants a portrait.
Landscapes pop up for no other reason than the beauty of painting them, self portraits, portraits, still lives. All these new things have secular nature
Info about Dürer: Wasn't just a painter, he was highly skilled engraver, woodcut worker, water colors. He was somewhat of a "Renaissance man.."
Albrecht Altdorfer: Landscape
Example landscape he did: "Danube Landscape"
- Done in 1525. Oil on Vellum (which is animal skin). That vellum was put on wood panel to give it a sense of rigidity
- For a long time, landscape was simply a backdrop, playing a secondary role to figures or other subjects matter. Landscape served to provide figures a real environment or context
- This is landscape just for painting a landscape-- a trend in northern Europe. This particular example is less observant. He did not try to delineate all the small intracacies. It is quite mysterious, landscape might just exist in his mind. Winding path leads its way to chattaue overlooks lake.
- Goes outside of tradition
Matthias Grünewald: The Crucifixion
Ex:The Crucifixion, Isenheim Altarpiece by him. Shown in closed format as shown on slides. Would be shown on regular week, but on weekend it would be open, showing a different scene. Done from 1510-1515
- Boils faith down to human qualities and its sense of humanity
- Shows image of Jesus crucified on cross. He does not appear divine, but appears very injured, hurt. He was whipped, has a crown of thorns. His fingers are cramped in state of rigor mortis, suggesting agony.
- Image of Christ, but really a dead man.. Colors of yellows and greens makes his face decay.
- Grünewald affected by Reformation as Jesus no longer appears alive-looking. Suggests the humanity of Jesus, not as much on the divine.
- Mary collapses into arms of John the Evangelist. Mary Magdelene is smaller, suggesting less significance
- Mary Magdalene's fingers mirror Jesus' pain.
- John the Baptist on the right, alongside lamb punctured at the heart. All three images suggest baptism, the Eucharist, and Christ being the sacrificial lamb to bring salvation.
Renaissance Art in France
* Portrait of Francis I. Appears like a big man
* Painted by Jean Clouet in 1525-1530.
* Francis was the biggest patron of Renaissance art in France during 16th century.
- Not as affected by Protestant Reformation. In fact, the bloody wars between the Huguenots (the protestants) and the Catholics did not erupt until mid 16th century
* It is a portrait, distinct theme of at. Lacks religious symbolism, secular.
- Face and Hands were generally sketched first. The king would sit there, called the sitter.
- In this piece, the artist first sketches and drafts the face and the hands. Then he brings it to the subject (Francis I) to get approval, then painting of it. Then he'll go into studio and have someone else model the outfit
- Artwork is flattering to him. Has very expensive silk garments. Extends beyond. Makes small man very large, symbolic of his power and stature in France.
- Francis even commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to move to France in 1516
Another important patron of Reniassance in France was Catherine de' Medici, who was queen of Henry II, the successor of Francis I.
Lesson outro
* Artist's job is stimulate world. Against repition and boredom.