THE SPREAD OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE TO ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, AND FLANDERS (NETHERLANDS)

THE NORTHERN RENAISSANCE

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• What contributions did writers and philosophers make to the northern Renaissance?

• How did the works of northern artists differ from those of the Italian Renaissance?

NORTHERN RENAISSANCE BACKGROUND

• The Renaissance began in Italy in the 1300s• It did not reach Northern Europe until after

1450• Economic growth began later which delayed

the support of the arts

THE RENAISSANCE SPREADS NORTH

• As cities grew, vast trading network spread across northern Europe

• Network dominated by Hanseatic League, merchant organization, 1200s to 1400s

– Protected members from pirates, other hazards

– Built lighthouses, trained ship captains

Trading Goods • Trading Ideas

• Northern Europeans traded ideas, goods; spread Italian Renaissance north

• Fleeing violence, Italian artists brought humanist ideas, painting techniques north

• Northern scholars traveled to Italy, brought ideas home

• Universities started in France, Netherlands, Germany

PHILOSOPHERS AND WRITERS

Northern humanists expressed their own ideas

Combined interests of theology, fiction and history

Created philosophical works, novels, dramas, and poems

• Combined Christian ideas, humanism

• Wrote of pure, simple Christian life, educating children

• Fanned flames of discontent

• Roman Catholic Church censored, condemned works

Desiderius Erasmus

• More’s best-known work, Utopia, contains criticisms of English government, society

• Presents vision of perfect, non-existent society based on reason

Sir Thomas More

• Italian-born writer focused on role of women in society

• Grew up in French court of Charles V; turned to writing when widowed

• Championed equality, education for women

Christine de Pisan

SHAKESPEARE AND HIS CHARACTERS

• William Shakespeare

• Many believe English playwright William Shakespeare greatest writer

• Plots not original, but treatments of them masterful

• Drew inspiration from ancient, contemporary literature

• Knowledge of natural science, humanist topics expressed in plays

Spread Renaissance Ideas

• Use of language, choice of themes made plays appealing even to uneducated

• Plays helped spread ideas of Renaissance to mass audience

• Focused on lives of realistic characters, unlike morality plays

• By Shakespeare’s death, 1616, London scene of thriving theatre district

ALBRECHT DURER (GERMAN)

• Known as the “German Leonardo”

• He traveled to Italy in 1494

• After returning to Germany, he produced woodcuts and engravings

• Many of his prints portray religious subjects and classical myths

• The popularity of his works helped to spread Renaissance styles

DURER – WOODCUTS

• Samson Killing the Lion

• Hercules

JAN VAN EYCK (FLEMISH)

• Van Eyck used oil-based paints to develop new techniques.• By applying layer upon layer of paint, van Eyck was able to create a variety of subtle colors in clothing and jewels

• His paintings display realistic details and reveal the personality of their subjects

PIETER BRUEGHEL (FLEMISH)

• Interested in realistic details and individual people

• He was very skillful in portraying large numbers of people

• He captured scenes from everyday peasant life such as weddings, dances, and harvest

BRUEGEL

CHANGES FROM THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

1. Humanism in the north led to calls for social and religious reform (More & Erasmus)

2. N. Renaissance artists reflected a more down-to-earth view of humanity

• Tried to depict people as they really were• Use of oil paints produced bright colors and a

hard surface, which lasted longer

ELIZABETHAN AGE

• The Renaissance spread to England in the mid-1500s

• Named for Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603)• She was well educated and spoke French, Italian,

Latin, and Greek• She supported the development of English art and

literature

• The theatre flourished under her patronage• William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of past styles.