6. northern europe
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The Renaissance in Northern Europe
Dates1420 – 1520
Painting in 15th century Flanders
Characteristics Solemn facial features and awkward unreal figure postures Less emphasis on perspective than in Italy Sacred scenes often portrayed in ordinary domestic interiors Space was often distorted to fit aspects of domestic life Devices like mirrors were used to reflect hidden sides of a room Landscape was often depicted through an open window Atmospheric perspective used in landscape Close observation of nature by artists Detailed perfection in the painting of flowers, jewels, shiny metal,
glass, fur, velvet and other expensive fabrics
In the cities of Ghent and Bruges (modern day Belgium)
Materials and techniques
Oil painting on wood panel This was slow drying and allowed artists to blend the colours
and make changes more easily It dried to a hard, opaque, enamel like finish with a shiny
velvety texture
Jan Van Eyck
Worked for time with his brother Hubert Perfected skills in oil painting to a very high level Developed ‘atmospheric perspective’ - the blurring of colours
and shapes in the distance Painted very fine realistic detail
Madonna of the Chancellor Rolin 1422 Jan van EYCK Musée du Louvre Paris
The Ghent Altarpiece 1432 – closed doors Hubert and Jan van EYCKCathedral of St Bavo Ghent Belgium
The Ghent Altarpiece 1432 – open doors Hubert and Jan van EYCK Cathedral of St Bavo Ghent Belgium
The Ghent Altarpiece (details)God Almighty Virgin Mary 1426-29
Cathedral of St Bavo Ghent Belgium
Adoration of the Lamb - Central panel from The Ghent Altarpiece 1425-29
Hubert and Jan van EYCKCathedral of St Bavo Ghent Belgium
The Arnolofini Marriage
An Italian merchant Giovanni Arnolfini and his fiancée Giovanna Cenami of Bruges
The painting celebrates their betrothal Painted in minute detail
Symbolic details include: Shoes to suggest a holy place The dog for faithfulness in marriage The bride’s ‘pregnancy’ children to come Reflection of the artist in the mirror between the figures suggests he is
a witness His name written in Latin on the wall translates to ‘Jan Van Eyck was
here 1434’
Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife1434
Jan van EYCK National Gallery, London
Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife (detail)1434National Gallery, London
Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife (detail)1434National Gallery, London
The Renaissance in Germany
Albrect Dürer A educated and well travelled man He was also a humanist Northern humanism was different to the Italian and had a
strong spirit of religious reform He was very influenced by Italian art but remained very much
his own person with his own ideas His works include a remarkable series of self portraits His made his first drawing of himself at just 13 years old
Self-Portrait at 26
1498
Albrect Dürer
Museo del Prado, Madrid
Self-Portrait in a Fur-Collared Robe
1500Albrect Dürer Alte Pinakothek, Munich
• The artist portrays a Christ like image of himself
• This was a statement of his faith
• His talents were God given because God had created man
• It is man’s duty to to follow Christ’s example
Dürers woodcuts and engravings
Dürer was an excellent draftsman He worked mainly as a graphic artist He took advantage of new technology as an opportunity for
production and distribution. He used wood engraving blocks and copper plates to make
copies. His own publishing business of printed graphics was equal to
that of his work as a painter
The Revelation of St John: 4. The Four Riders of the Apocalypse1497-98 Woodcut,
Albrect Dürer
Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche
Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe
All images from Web Gallery of Art www.wga.hu
Acknowledgements
Art Associates Maria Moore
Margaret O’Shea
Local Facilitator TeamAine Andrews
Joe CaslinJane Campbell
Siobhan CampbellNiamh O’Donoghue
Niamh O’NeillKeith O’Rahilly
Sheena McKeonTony MorrisseyMonica White
Many thanks to the following for their invaluable contribution to the European Art History and Appreciation series of workshops and resource materials.
PDST Professional Development Service for Teachers
PDST Professional Development Service for Teachers
The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and
Skills under the National Development Plan 2007 -
2013
Cultural & Environmental Education
Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST)Dublin West Education Centre,
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National Co-ordinatorConor Harrison
Mobile: 087 240 5710E-mail: [email protected]
AdministratorAngie Grogan
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